Nav Rules

Front 1

Rules 4 - 10 apply to what?

Back 1

Conduct of vessels in any condition of visibility.

Front 2

Rules 11-18 apply to what?

Back 2

Conduct of vessels in sight of one another

Front 3

Rule 5

Back 3

-Look-out

Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as all 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.

Front 4

Rule 6

Back 4

-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. The following factors shall be taken into account:

By all vessels: visibility, traffic density, maneuverability, background lighting, winds, sea, current and proximity of navigational hazards, draft in relation to available depth of water.

Additionally by vessels with operational radar: characteristics efficiency, and limitations of radar equipment, constraints imposed by radar range scale, effect of radar detection of the sea state, weather, and other sources of interferece, possibility small vessels, ice or other objects may not be detected at an adequate range, number, location, and movement of vessels detected by radar.

Front 5

Rule 7

Back 5

-Risk is collision

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

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

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

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

Such risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change; such risk may sometimes exist even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a very large vessel or a tow or when approaching a vessel at close range.

Front 6

Rule 8

Back 6

-Action to avoid collision

Any action 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.

Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar.

If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel shall slacken her speed or take all way off.

Front 7

Rule 9

Back 7

-Narrow Channels

A vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway shall keep as near to the outer limit of the channel or fairway which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable.

A vessel less then 20 meters or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

A vessel shall not cross if such crossing impedes the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within the narrow channel or fairway

A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any other vessel navigating within a narrow channel or fairway.

Any vessel shall if there circumstances admit avoid anchoring in a narrow channel.

Front 8

Rule 10

Back 8

-Traffic Separation Schemes

A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:

Proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of flow, keep clear of a traffic seperation line or separation zone; normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane but when joining or leaving from either side do so at as small an angle too the general direction of traffic flow.

Avoid crossing Lanes but if abliged do so shall cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles in the general direction of traffic flow.

Front 9

Rule 12

Back 9

-Sailing Vessels

When two sailing vessels are arriving so as to involve risk if collision on of them shall keep out of the way as follows:

When each has wind on a different side, the vessel which has wind in her own Port side shall keep out of the way of the other.

When both have winds on the same side the vessel which is to Windward shall keep out of the way.

Front 10

Rule 13

Back 10

-Overtaking

Any vessel Overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

A vessel shall be deemed to be Overtaking when coming up with another vessel from a direction more then 22.5deg abaft her beam that at night she would be able to see only the stern light of the vessel being overtaken.

Front 11

Rule 14

Back 11

-Head on Situation

When two power driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter course to starboard and pass Port to port.

Such situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel seas the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in line or nearly in line and/or both side lights.

When a vessel is in doubt as to weather such a situation exists she shall assume that it does and act accordingly

Front 12

Rule 15

Back 12

- 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.

Front 13

Rule 16

Back 13

-Action by Give-Way 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.

Front 14

Rule 17

Back 14

-Action by Stand-On Vessel

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

The later vessel may, however, take action to avoid collision by her maneuver 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 the rules.

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 give way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.

A power driven vessel which takes action in a crossing situation to avoid collision with another vessel shall if the circumstances of the case admit not alter course to port for a vessel on her own Port side.

Shall: Maintain course and speed

May: Take action by her manuever alone as soon as it becomes apparent the GW vessel is not taking action IAW the rules

Shall: Take action as best to avoid collision when it cannot be avoided by GW actions alone

Shall: Not alter course to port for a vessel on her own port side.

Front 15

Rule 18

Back 15

-Responsibility Between Vessels

Not under command

Restricted in ability to maneuver

Constrained by draft

Fishing

Sailing

Power driven

Seaplanes

Front 16

Rule 19

Back 16

-Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility

Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. A power driven vessel shall have her engines ready for immediate maneuver.

A vessel which detects by radar alone the presence of another vessel shall determine if a close quarters situation is developing and/or risk of collision exists. If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time, provided that when such action consists of an alteration of course, so far as possible the following shall be avoided:

An alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken;

An alteration of course towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.

Except where it has been determined that risk if collision does not exist, every vessel which hears apparently forward of her beam the fog signal of another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close quarters situation with another vessel forward of her beam shall reduce her speed to the minimum at which she can be kept on course. She shall if necessary take all way off and in any event navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over.

Front 17

Sounds signal altering course to STBD

Back 17

One short blast

Front 18

Sounds signal for altering course to port

Back 18

Two short blasts

Front 19

Sounds signal. Intend to overtake STBD side

Back 19

Two prolonged followed by one short

Front 20

Sound signal overtaking PORT side

Back 20

Two prolonged blasts followed by two short

Front 21

Vessel being overtaken in agreement sound signal

Back 21

Long, short, long, short

Front 22

Power Driven vessel making way signal

Back 22

One prolonged not to exceed 2 minutes

Front 23

Power driven vessel underway not making way signal

Back 23

Two prolonged not to exceed 2 minutes

Front 24

Vessel at anchor less than 100meters sound signal

Back 24

Rapid ringing of Bell not to exceed 1 minute.

Front 25

Vessel at anchor great than 100 meters sound signal

Back 25

Rapid ringing of Bell in forward part of vessel followed by rapid gong in after part of vessel

Front 26

Optional sound signal for vessel anchored

Back 26

One short, one prolonged, one short

Front 27

Vessel aground signal

Back 27

3 strokes of bell, rapid ringing, 3 strokes, then sounding of gong