?? When a Ship Leaves Port ......

[sail7seas]

I've wondered for a while but always forget to ask a Captain when I have the opportunity to do so ........

 

When the ship leaves port, we (almost) always hear the ship's horn sounded. I've wondered if it is as a Thank You to the port for the hospitality? Is it a signal to other vessels in the harbor that the ship is moving? Some sort of courtesy to the port/harbormaster/pilots?

 

Or something else entirely?

[bdmarine]

CRUISE SHIP HORN SOUND SIGNALS

While on your cruise you will hear the huge horn blast. In case you are wondering what the ship's horn signals mean, here's how to decode them:

Sound signals are broken into two types, long and short horn blasts. A short blast lasts for 1 to 3 second and a long blast from 4 to 6 seconds.

> 1 long blast is a warning that the ship is about to move from a position and that the captain may be unable to see other boats. This signal is commonly used when leaving port.

> 3 short blasts mean the ship is backing out of a slip.

> 5 short blasts signify danger.

> 1 short blast and 2 short blasts signify intent and acceptance in overtaking (passing) situations.

[sail7seas]

Thank you. Appreciate the info. One less thing I need to wonder about. :)

 

 

Aren't there also horn blasts of courtesy/salute?

[bdmarine]

Yes, the horn is often used in salute. On the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary 2, she sounded her horn 4 times when passing the Statue of Liberty.

[JoyAnn]

On my first cruise, on the Maasdam, we sailed into St. Thomas at the same time as the Amsterdam, which was on the last leg of its world cruise. We left St. Thomas before the Amsterdam did, and the two ships tooted back and forth for quite awhile and the passengers all waved back and forth. Hubby caught this on videotape, it was quite funny to hear the two ships "salute" each other.

[tomc]

>>>>3 short blasts mean the ship is backing out of a slip.<<<

 

I told my SO that if this happens to her, some Beano might help. Bad remark.

[JoyAnn]

Yeah, but it was funny.

 

;-p

 

>>>>3 short blasts mean the ship is backing out of a slip.<<<

 

I told my SO that if this happens to her, some Beano might help. Bad remark.

[jhannah]

I also have heard nearby ship(s) reply when our vessel's horn is sounded when leaving port. Pretty neat. One that I got on video was when sailing the Regal Princess out of Oslo. Her identical twin (except for paint,) A'rosa Blu, was just entering port and they tooted back and forth for a couple of minutes. It was a treat to see the ships together.

[Copper10-8]

The HAL ships frequently signal each other and/or the Port (authority), using the same "tune", when leaving Dutch territory, i.e. the Netherlands itself or the Netherlands Antilles.

It sounds something like seven short blasts (ta ta ta ta ta ...ta ta) which is usually answered by the other HAL ship

[Sierrachik]

>>>>3 short blasts mean the ship is backing out of a slip.<<<

 

I told my SO that if this happens to her, some Beano might help. Bad remark.

 

Wow, and you still managed to be coherent when you posted this, huh?!? LOL :)

[JoyAnn]

Wasn't it fun to hear them toot back and forth!

 

After we left St. Thomas, we headed for HMC. After dark, we saw the Amsterdam in the distance because of her lights. She passed us after leaving St. Thomas and made it to HMC before we did. I really like it when you can see other cruise ships on the horizon after dark. The wave action makes it look like they are floating or bobbing all over the place.

 

 

I also have heard nearby ship(s) reply when our vessel's horn is sounded when leaving port. Pretty neat. One that I got on video was when sailing the Regal Princess out of Oslo. Her identical twin (except for paint,) A'rosa Blu, was just entering port and they tooted back and forth for a couple of minutes. It was a treat to see the ships together.

[TidePrideGA]

We are scheduled to leave leave FLL and arrive at HMC at approximately the same time as the Vaandam. I'm hoping she'll be behind us and we'll be able to see her from our aft balcony!

[vicocala]

The Glory and one of her sister ships got into a "tooting" match as we pulled out of Cozumel a couple weeks ago. It was funny, and all of us were out on the decks waving to each other.

 

 

As for warnings, I learned on Glory that seven short blasts and one long blast means get your life jacket and head for your muster station! :eek:

[bobpatj]

What do you call the number of blasts of the HAL ship's horn, to signal the folks in the FLL condos, as you sail from Port Everglades? We always love the "dueling horns" from the condos to the ships.

[sail7seas]

:) :) We call the folks in the condos with their horns and flags, the "tooters".....and we love 'em.

[DCBCcruiser]

Will they always signal the condos or is irregular?

[sail7seas]

EVERY time we have sailed by the condos going out of FLL, the Captains have always sounded the horn for them. We always look forward to it......such a happy way to start our cruise. :)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

EVERY time we have sailed by the condos going out of FLL, the Captains have always sounded the horn for them. We always look forward to it......such a happy way to start our cruise. :)

 

We do too, I think it is soo much fun. There are so many HAL supporters in the condos.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Here's another picture of leaving FLL

[DCBCcruiser]

lol, that's great thanks!

[dougnewmanatsea]

Just a note, ladies and gentlemen:

 

A horn is something which might be used by the band in the Queen's Lounge.

 

The thing that gets blown when leaving port is a whistle.

 

Sorry, just one of those things that drives me nuts... Almost as much as people who are "going downstairs to their room on the second floor" ;) .

 

What can I say, I'm a nautical term snob!

[JimVrhovac]

Haven't lived until you see a disney ship leave port and it sounds "wish upon a star".

 

Most horns are manley in nature and the captain of the disney ship must hide under the desk when his horn sounds.

 

Jim

[Krazy Kruizers]

Jim

When we were in Nassau a couple of times, the Disney ship left ahead of us and we were able to hear the whistle play "wish Upon a Star" - loved it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We love it whenever we go by the Condos in Ft Lauderdale and they are all waving the towels and blowing their horns and whistles.

There have been several occassions when we have heard the ships "talking" back and forth with their whistles - love that as well.

[JoyAnn]

I remember on our last cruise in the Western Caribbean we saw a ship on the horizon one night, but could not identify it. There is something quite beautiful about seeing a ship in the distance, all lit up, in the middle of the dark ocean.

 

We are scheduled to leave leave FLL and arrive at HMC at approximately the same time as the Vaandam. I'm hoping she'll be behind us and we'll be able to see her from our aft balcony!