Chances are when you are on the water you will occasionally encounter fog, making navigation a challenge. Because of the time it can take to stop or turn a marine vessel, fog is usually considered dense for mariners if it reduces visibility to less than 1 mile. Fog can form quickly and catch boaters off guard. Visibility can be reduced to a few feet, which can disorient even the most experienced boaters. The international standards for describing reduced visibility in marine forecasts are as follows:
Very Poor: Less than 0.5 nautical miles
Poor: 0.5 to less than 2 nautical miles
Moderate: 2 to 5 nautical miles
Good: Greater than 5 nautical miles
Learning to navigate through fog (or avoiding it) is critical to safe boating. These safety tips will help to keep you safe:
Slow down to avoid collisions.
Turn on all of your running lights, even in daytime.
Listen for sounds of other boats that may be near you or for fog horns and bells from nearby buoys.
VHF NOAA Weather Radio should broadcast important information concerning the formation, movement or dissipation of the fog. Pay close attention.
If your vessel has radar, use it to help locate dangers that may be around you.
Use GPS or a navigation chart to help obtain a fix on your location.
If you are unable to get your bearings, stay put until the fog lifts but make sure you are in a safe location.
Be familiar with horn and bell sounds you should produce to warn others around you when in dense fog.
Have a compass available. Even if you don't know where you are in the fog, with a compass you can determine the direction you are navigating.
Stay out of shipping lanes. Large ships cannot see you! Learn more about safe boating in fog
