LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS, VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 33, 18 May 1863, Page 2

LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS, VICTORIA.

(From the Gazette, March 18.) The accompanying Dotiee to mariners respecting alterations in the light at Port Phillip Heads, and sailing directions rendered necessary by the alterainns in question, are published for general information. RoaBBT S. Asdeesos, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne, March 12, 1863. Notice to Mahitieks. poet phillip heads lighthouses. Navigators are hereby informed that in accord, tince with a notice to mariners dated the 27th of December, 18(52, the alterations in Shortland's Bluff and Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for the first time of n light on Point Lonsdale, ns notified on the 3rd February, 1563, were carried into «ffeet on the respective dates mentioned in such notices. fij Consequent upon these changes, the following sailing directions are published for the guidance of vessels navigating the entrance to Port Phillip at nisrht : — 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 IN" \ E bearing; as they proceed to the NW to brine: the two lights in one, the low li^ht will change it3 color from white to red on a NNE £ E "bearing. ' Vessels from the southward and westward sighting the high light to the eastward of NE by K should, to avoid the Barwon bight, haul out to the eastward to open the low lijht, which will be first S3on white on a NE bvE "bearing, and as they proceed to bring the two lights in one the low light will change its color from white to red on a NE i E bearing. A reference to the chart will show that, as ■hitherto, the best and safest conrso between the Heads is to keep the two Shortland's Bluff lights in one line on a NF, hv N and SW hy S bearing ; but should the wind become scant and the vesse compelled to make a tack when in the vicinitv of the Corsair Rork or the Point Lonsdale Reef, these dangers will be avoided by vessels of light drausrht 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 Lopsdale 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. _ # I Vessels steering from sea for Port Phillip, and near the entrance, will first see the Point Lons j dale green light on a NW by N A N bearing, and so long as thev hare it full in view they are to 6eaward of the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks, . when the two colors, red and green, hegin to blend, it indicates vieinitv to the line which passes on a NW by W bearing from the light over these : dangers; When the Lonsdale red light opens out full, j vessels are inside of them; and when thev shut it i in on a W £ N "bearing, they are inside of the Corsair rock. ; Vessels steering towards the West Channel will avoid the reef off Shortlnnd's Bluff, and the bank betwpen it and Swan Spit, and also clear the Roynl George sand, when in their vicinitv, by not opening outT the white light on Swan Spit, but keeping the red light in sight until within three cables' length of it, when they will be above the ' Roval George buoy, and should hnul to the eastward, and open the white light, giving the light- \ house a berth of three-quarter's of a cable's length in passing. ' Vesspls navigating- the South Chunnel am reminded that, the low light on Shortlands Bluff now shows whi f e from sen ur> to the South Channel to thf> enst end of Cnpel ''ound. ' Vessels below Cnprl Sound, White Perch Buov, ; 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 west 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 side of the fairway, indicated at night by the Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a l^E J- TC bearing, and bv day the j Rwan Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 black j baov.

Vessels of heavy draught should anchor on the SE side of the fairwny, which is indicated at nieht by the Swan Snit lisht changrinjr from red to white on a NE £ X bearing, and by day the Swan Spit Lighthouse just open "W of No. 2 White Perch Buov.

Masters of vessels about to anchor at ni^ht off Phortland's Bluff are Tequpsted to note that the low light shuts in on a If by W bearing.

All bearings are mnsrnetic. CHARIEB FEHffUSOW, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors,

TVilliatnstown. 11th March, 1863.