For Preventing Collisions at Sea

UNIT TWO

INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS

FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA

(extracts)

General Definitions

For the purpose of these Rules, except where the context otherwise requires:

a) The word vessel includes every description of watercraft, including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

b) The term power-driven vessel means any vessel propelled by machinery.

c) The term vessel engaged in fishing means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restrict manoeuvrability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict manoeuvrability.

d) The term vessel not under command means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

e) The term vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

The following vessels shall be regarded as vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre:

I a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, marine cable or pipeline,

II a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations,

III a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway,

IV a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft,

V a vessel engaged in mine-sweeping operations,

VI a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

f) The word underway means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

g) The term restricted visibility means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.

PART B STEERING AND SAILING RULES

SECTIONS I CONDUCT OF VESSELS IN ANY

CONDITION OF VISIBILITY

Application

Rules in this Section apply in any condition of visibility.

Lookout

Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as by ail available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.

Safe Speed

Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

Risk of Collision

a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist.

b) Proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including longrange scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision and radar plotting or equivalent systematic observation of detected objects.

c) Assumptions shall not be made on the basis of scanty information, especially scanty radar information.

d) In determining if risk of collision exists the following considerations shall be among those taken into account:

I such risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change,

II such risk may sometimes exist even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a very large vessel at close range.

Action to avoid Collision

a) Any action taken to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.

b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar; a succession of small alterations of course and/or speed should be avoided.

c) If there is sufficient sea room, alteration of course alone may be the most effective action to avoid a close quarters situation provided that it is made in good time, is substantial and does not result in another close quarters situation.

d) If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel shall slacken her speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing her means of propulsion.

SECTION II CONDUCT OF VESSELS IN SIGHT

OF ONE ANOTHER

Overtaking

a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules of this Section any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

b) A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22,5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see only the stern light of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.

Headon Situation

a) When two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.

b) Such situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights, and if by day she observesthe corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.

Crossing Situation

When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

Action by Giveway Vessel

Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

Action by Standon Vessel

a) I Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed.

II The latter vessel may however take action to avoid collision by her manoeuvre alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance with these Rules.

b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the giveway vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.

QUESTIONS

1. What is another (old) expression for the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea?

2. What are the main terms dealt with in the General Definitions?

3. What is meant by "the vessel engaged in fishing"?

4. When is a ship defined a "vessel not under command"?

5. Define the term "vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre".

6. When is a vessel "underway"?

7. What kind of a lookout should be kept constantly on board?

8. What is understood by the term "safe speed"?

9. What precautions should a vessel take when there is a risk of collision?

10. What actions should be taken in order to avoid collision?

EXERCISES

I COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY

1. Complete the following sentences by choosing the statements under a), b) or c) as applicable:

1. A fishing vessel engaged in fishing is:

a) a vessel not under command

b) a vessel restricted.,in her ability to manoeuvre

c) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre by the nature of her work

2. A vessel whose engines have broken down is:

a) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre

b) a vessel not under command

3. A vessel engaged in fishing is:

a) a vessel fishing with nets or trawls

b) a vessel fishing with trolling lines.

4. A vessel engaged in dredging is:

a) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre by the nature of her work

b) a vessel not under command

5. A vessel stopped in the open seas is:

a) underway

b) making way

c) a vessel not under command

6. In poor visibility the navigator should make use of:

a) the radar only

b) all the means of fixing the ship's position available

7. A vessel proceeding in a narrow channel shall keep:

a) near to the starboard side of the fairway

b) near to the port side of the fairway

8. A vessel overtaking another vessel shall

a) require the overtaken vessel to keep out of the way

b) keep clear of the vessel being overtaken

9. A vessel is overtaking when:

a) she comes from a direction less than 22,5 degrees abaft another vessel's beam

b) she comes from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam of another vessel

1O. A vessel is overtaking when at night she can

a) see only the stern light of the overtaken vessel

b) see both the stern light and either of the side lights.

2. Insert the missing words and terms (see the text above):

1. When two vessels are in of another and of collision exists, the steering and sailing provide for mutual action so that collision is avoided.

2. Thus when two driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal , so as to involve the risk of collision, each should course to starboard and pass on the side of the other.

3. Each vessel should indicate that she is altering to starboard by a short blast on the whistle in with the Rule 34.

4. When two power vessels are , so as to involve the risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on the starboard side shall out of the way of the other.

5. 17 directs that the other (i.e. overtaken) vessel shall her course and speed.

6. Rule 15 says that the giving vessel shall avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

7. Under normal circumstances a tug is able to with the rule of the as a power driven .

8. In poor visibility, the most important use of radar information is made to the close situation.

II GRAMMAR

I Collocations: Rearrange the sentences below by applying one of the following collocations (verb + object noun) :

- avoid collision

- alter the course

- keep/maintain the course

- deviate from the course

- keep out of the way

- maintain/keep a look-out

- keep the speed

- increase the speed

- slacken speed

- reverse the engines

- restrict visibility

(1) By turning to starboard our ship escaped the risk of colliding with another vessel.

(2) We had to reduce speed suddenly.

(3) The engines were running astern.

(4) We had to turn off course to avoid collision.

(5) What did you undertake to keep clear of the barge?

(6) The overtaken vessel is not allowed to increase or decrease speed or change her course.

(7) The course was changed to 234 degrees.

(8) The ship is going faster ahead.

(9) Due to dense for the visibility was very poor.

(10) The boatswain was standing at the look-out post and watching closely.

II Word Forms

Fill the appropriate form of the words in the brackets:

1. (able, unable, ability, enable, disabled)

(a) A vessel is a vessel which cannot manoeuvre.

(b) We were to manoeuvre because of the rudder breakdown.

(d) Were you to keep out of the way?

(e) A sudden turn to starboard us to avoid collision.

2. (require, required, requiring, requirement)

(a) Each deck officer a full knowledge of the Collision Rules.

(b) The pilot station our position and course.

(d) The ship was going full astern, only four minutes to stop.

(e) A sharp lookout is in poor visibility.

3. (available, availability; manoeuvre, manoeuvring, manoeuvrability).

(a) The fishing gear, when engaged, greatly reduces the of the fishing vessel.

(b) All means should be used to avoid collision.

(d) Our ship her way through the mine area.

(e) is difficult in confined waters.

(f) The ship is now approaching harbour and we are preparing for the berthing .

(g) I am afraid that no radioconnection is with the ship in distress.

III Relative Clauses. Relative clauses are introduced by the relatives WHO, WHOM, WHOSE, WHICH, THAT; e.g. :

The person whose radiogram you received is just coming.

A vessel which is not observing the Rules of the Road is a serious threat to navigation.

The goods were delivered to the person that presented the B/L.

Relative sentences of the type above can be reduced by omitting the relative pronoun (who, which, that) and transforming the verb into a present participle (ing) or past participle, or omitting the auxiliary verb before an adjective, e.g. :

1. A vessel which proceeds along a fairway shall keep to the starboard limit of the fairway.