LIGHTHOUSES,PORT PHILLIP HEADS VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 64, 18 June 1863, Page 2

LIGHTHOUSES,PORT PHILLIP HEADS VICTORIA.

(From the Gazette, March 18.) The accompanying notice to mariners respecting Iterations in the light at Port Phillip Heads and ailing directions rendered necessary by the alte - raions in question, are published for general information. lIoaKRT S. Anderson, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne. March 12, 1833. Notice to Mariners, port phillip deads lighthouses. Navigators are hereby informed that in accordnnce with n notice to mariners dated the 27th of December, 1862, the alterations in bhortland s Bluff and Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for the first time of a light on Point Lonsdale, as notiCod on the 3rd February, 1363, were carried into effect on the respective dates mentioned in such noticc3. ... Consequent upon these changes, the following enilin.' directions arc pubished for the guidance of vessels navigating the entrance to Fort Phillip at Vessels from the southward and eastward will see the high light (fixed white) onaNl W bearing and the white low light (fixed white and red) oa°a N .* E bearing; as they proceed to the NW to bring the two lights in one, the low light will change its color from white to red on a NINE 4 li Vcs'rJls from the southward and westward Bi<rhtin" the high light to the eastward of NE by E'ehoufd, to avoid tho Barwon bight, haul out to . i he eastward to open the low light, which will be first sjen white on a NE by E bearing, and as they proceed to bring the two lights an one the low light will change its color from white B to red ona NE 1 E bearing. A reference to the chart wilt show that, as hitherto, tho best and safest course between the Heads is to keep tho two Shortlnnd s Bluff lights in one line on a NE by N and SW by S bearing ; but should the wind become scant and the vesse compelled to make a tack when in tho vicraitv of the Corsair Rock or the Point Lonsdale Eeef these dangers will bfi avoided by vessels of light draught so long as the Shorthand's Bluff low red liehtM kept in sight. Vessels so circumstanced must be careful to go about or haul towards midchannel beforo the low light changes from red to trb-jte. . r> • . t The li<*ht (fixed red and green) on I omt I,onsdalo has "been established to warn vessels entering or departing at night, of their yicmity to, and when they are clear of, the Lonsdale and Ferguson Vessels steering from sea for Port Phillip, and near the entrance, will first see the Point Lons dale green light on a NW by -N ± N bearing, and so long as they have 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 a NW by W bearing from the light over these *When the Lonsdale red light opens out full, vessels are inside of them ; and when they shut it in on a W i N hearing, they are inside of the CorQniu voclc Vessels steering towards the West Channel will avoid the reef off Shorthand's Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, and also clear the Hoyal George sand, when in their vicinity, by not opening out the white light on Swan Spit, but beeping the red light in sight until within three cables' length of it, when they will be above tho 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 navigating the South Chunnel are reminded that the low light on Shortlands Bluff now shows white from sea up to tho South Channel to the east end of Capcl Sound. t Vessels below Cr.pel Sound, Whito Perch Buoy, will be aided in thuir 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 beariDg. With the view of keeping the fairway to the West Channel clear, vessels of liiiht, 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, indicates at night by the Swan Spit light changing from ml to white on a NE $ E bearing, and by day the Swan Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 black buoy. Vessels of heavy draught should anchor on the SE side of the fairwny, wi.i h is indicated nt night by the Swan Spit light chn i :iug from rod to -white on a NE £ N bearing, an : hy day the Swan Spit Lighthouse just open W of No. 2 White Perch Buoy. Masters of vessels about to anchor at night off Shorfland's Bluff are requested to note that the low light shuts in on a N by W bearing. All bearings are magnetic. Charles Ferguson, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors, Williamstown. 11th March, 1863.