LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 2, 15 May 1863, Page 2 (Supplement)

LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS VICTORIA.

(From the Gazette, March 18.) The accompanying notice to mariners respecting, alterations in the light at Port Phillip Heads, and •ailing directions rendered necessary by the alteraions in question, are published for general information. RoaBBT S. Awdebsok, Commissioner of Trade and Customs, Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne, March 12, 1863.

Notice to Mabinebs.

JPOBT 2PHIM.IP HEADS LIGHTHOUSES. Navigators are hereby informed that in accord, ance with a notice to mariners dated the 27th of December, 1862, the alterations in Shortland's Bluff and Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for the first timo of a light on Point Lonsdale, as notified on the 3rd February, 1863, were carried into effect oo the respective dates mentioned in such notices. pi* Consequent upon these changes, the following sailing directions are published for the guidance of vessels navigating the entrance to Port Phillip afc night : — < Vessels from the southward and eastward will see the high light (fixed white) on a N | W bearing, and the white low light (fixed white and red) on a N %T$ bearing; as they proceed to tho NW ■ to bring the two lights in one, the low light will change its color from white to red on a NNE £ E bearing. Vessels from the southward and westward sighting 1 the high light to the eastward of NE by E should, to avoid tho Barwon bight, haul out to the eastward to open the low light, which will be first s^en white on a NE by E bearing, and as they proceed to bring the two lights in one the low i Jight will change its color from white to red on a HE J E bearing. A reference to the chart will show that, as hitherto, the best and safest course between the Heads is to keep the two Shortland's Bluff lights in one line on a NE by N and SW by S bearing ; but should tbo wind become scant and the vesse compelled to make a tack when in the vicinity of the Coraair Rock or the Point Lonsdale Reef, these dangers will be avoided by vessels of light draught so long as the Shortland's Bluff low red light is kept in sight. Vessels so circumstanced must be careful to go about or haul towards midchannel before the low light changes from red to white. The light (fixed red and green) on Point Lonsdale has been established to warn vessels entering or departing at night, of their vicinity to, and when they are clear of, the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks. Vessels steering from sea for Port Phillip, and nent the entrance, will first see the Point Lonsdftlo green lisrht on a NW by N £ N bearing, and bo long as they hnve it full in view they are to seaward of the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks, when the two colors, red and green, begin to blend, it indicates vicinity to the line which passes on aNW by W bearing from the light over these dangers. When the Lonsdale red light opens out full, vessels are inside of them; and when they shut it in on a W £ N bearing, they are inside of the Corsair rock. Vessels steering towards the West Channel vnll avoid the reef off Shortland's Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, and also clear the Royal George sand, when in their vicinity, by not opening out the white light on Swan Spit, but keepinc the red light in sight until within three eahles' length of it, when they will be above the Royal George buoy, and should haul to the eastward, and open the white light, giving the lighthouse a berth of three-quarter's of a cable's length in passing. Vessels navigatin? the South Chunnnl are reminded that the low light on Shortlands Bluff now shows whit* 1 from sea up to the South Channel to the east end of Cnpel Sound. Vessels below Capel Sound, White Perch Buoy, will be aided in their passage up or down the South Channel, and avoid the north sand, by not shutting the light in, it being masked on a we3t by north bearing. With the view of keeping the fairway to the West Channel clear, vessels of light draught are recommended, when anchoring off Shortland's Bluff, to bring up as close over towards the shore as possible on the NW sido of the fairway, indicated at niehtby the Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a NE £ F. bearing, and by day the Swan Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 black banv. Vessels of heavy drauprht should anchor on the Sl3 side of the fairway, which is indicated at night by the Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a NE £ N bearing, and by day the Swan Spit Lighthouse just open W of No. 2 White Perch Buoy. . Masters of vessels about to anchor at night off Shortland's Bluff are requested to note that the low light shuts in on a N by W bearing. All bearings are magnetic. Chariks Ferguson, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors. Williamstown. 11th March, 1863.