1. RULERULE OF THE ROAD 1OF THE ROAD 1
A Brief By Lance GrindleyA Brief By Lance Grindley
2. Grunt Productions 2007
StructureStructure
Part A (General Rules) (Rules 1-3)Part A (General Rules) (Rules 1-3)
Part B (Steering and Sailing Rules) (Rules 4-Part B (Steering and Sailing Rules) (Rules 4-
19)19)
Sect I - All Conditions of Vis (Rules4-10)Sect I - All Conditions of Vis (Rules4-10)
Sect II - In Sight of One Another (Rules 11-18)Sect II - In Sight of One Another (Rules 11-18)
Sect III - not in sight of one another (Rule 19)Sect III - not in sight of one another (Rule 19)
Part C (Lights and Shapes) (Rules 20-31)Part C (Lights and Shapes) (Rules 20-31)
Part D (Sound + Light Signals)(Rules 32-37)Part D (Sound + Light Signals)(Rules 32-37)
Part E (Exemptions) (Rule 38)Part E (Exemptions) (Rule 38)
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OTHER REFERENCESOTHER REFERENCES
NP100 MARINERS HANDBOOKNP100 MARINERS HANDBOOK
SAILING DIRECTIONSSAILING DIRECTIONS
ANNUAL SUMMARY OF NOTICE TOANNUAL SUMMARY OF NOTICE TO
MARINERSMARINERS
SEAMANSHIP BOOKSSEAMANSHIP BOOKS
GONS MANUALSGONS MANUALS
PORT GUIDESPORT GUIDES
REGS 4 (FOR) SHIPSREGS 4 (FOR) SHIPS
BRIDGE PROCEDURESBRIDGE PROCEDURES
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Rules applicable in anyRules applicable in any
condition of visibilitycondition of visibility
Safe SpeedSafe Speed
Risk of CollisionRisk of Collision
Impeding PassageImpeding Passage
Narrow Channels & TSSNarrow Channels & TSS
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RULE 6 - SAFE SPEEDRULE 6 - SAFE SPEED
Every vessel shall at all timesEvery vessel shall at all times
proceed at a safe speed so that sheproceed at a safe speed so that she
can takecan take proper and effectiveproper and effective
action to avoid collisionaction to avoid collision andand bebe
stopped within a distancestopped within a distance
appropriate to the prevailingappropriate to the prevailing
circumstances and conditions.circumstances and conditions.
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Rule 7 - Risk of CollisionRule 7 - Risk of Collision
Every vessel shall use all availableEvery vessel shall use all available
means appropriate to themeans appropriate to the
prevailing circumstances andprevailing circumstances and
conditions to determine if risk ofconditions to determine if risk of
collision exists. If there is anycollision exists. If there is any
doubt such risk shall be deemed todoubt such risk shall be deemed to
exist.exist.
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Rule 7 - Risk of CollisionRule 7 - Risk of Collision
cont.cont.
Proper use shall be made of radar equipment ifProper use shall be made of radar equipment if
fitted and operational, including long-rangefitted and operational, including long-range
scanning to obtain early warning of risk ofscanning to obtain early warning of risk of
collision and radar plotting or equivalentcollision and radar plotting or equivalent
systematic observation of detected objects.systematic observation of detected objects.
Assumptions shall not be made on the basis ofAssumptions shall not be made on the basis of
scanty information, especially scanty radarscanty information, especially scanty radar
information.information.
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Rule 7 - Risk of Collision cont.Rule 7 - Risk of Collision cont.
d.d. In determining if risk of collision exists theIn determining if risk of collision exists the
following considerations shall be amongfollowing considerations shall be among
those taken into account:those taken into account:
i) such risk shall be deemed to exist if thei) such risk shall be deemed to exist if the
compass bearing of an approaching vesselcompass bearing of an approaching vessel
does not appreciably change;does not appreciably change;
ii) such risk may sometimes exist even whenii) such risk may sometimes exist even when
an appreciable bearing change is evident,an appreciable bearing change is evident,
particularly when approaching a very largeparticularly when approaching a very large
vessel or a tow or when approaching a vesselvessel or a tow or when approaching a vessel
at close range.at close range.
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Impeding Passage - RulesImpeding Passage - Rules
9,10 and 189,10 and 18
Example - Rule 9Example - Rule 9
c) A vessel engaged in fishingc) A vessel engaged in fishing shall notshall not
impedeimpede the passage of any other vesselthe passage of any other vessel
navigating within a narrow channel or fairway.navigating within a narrow channel or fairway.
vs. Rule 18 where:-vs. Rule 18 where:-
b) A sailing vessel underwayb) A sailing vessel underway shall keep out ofshall keep out of
the way ofthe way of:: a vessel not under commanda vessel not under command
a vessel RAMa vessel RAM
a vessel engaged in fishing.a vessel engaged in fishing.
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RULE 9 - NARROW CHANNELSRULE 9 - NARROW CHANNELS
(b) A vessel of(b) A vessel of less than 20 metresless than 20 metres in lengthin length
or a sailing vessel shall not impede theor a sailing vessel shall not impede the
passage ........passage ........
(c) A vessel(c) A vessel engaged in fishingengaged in fishing shall notshall not
impede the passage of any other vesselimpede the passage of any other vessel
navigating .......navigating .......
(d) A vessel(d) A vessel shall not cross a narrowshall not cross a narrow
channel or fairway if such crossingchannel or fairway if such crossing
impedes the passage of a vessel whichimpedes the passage of a vessel which
can safely navigate only within suchcan safely navigate only within such
channel or fairway.channel or fairway.
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TSS - Rule 10TSS - Rule 10
i) A vesseli) A vessel engaged in fishingengaged in fishing shall notshall not
impede the passage of any vesselimpede the passage of any vessel
following a traffic lane.following a traffic lane.
j) A vessel ofj) A vessel of less than 20 m in length orless than 20 m in length or
a sailing vessela sailing vessel shall not impede theshall not impede the
safe passage of a power-driven vesselsafe passage of a power-driven vessel
following a traffic lane.following a traffic lane.
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Conduct of vessels in sight ofConduct of vessels in sight of
one another.one another.
Overtaking ruleOvertaking rule
Action by give way vesselAction by give way vessel
Action by stand on vesselAction by stand on vessel
Manoeuvring signalsManoeuvring signals
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Rule 13 - Overtaking RuleRule 13 - Overtaking Rule
Any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out ofAny vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of
the way of the vessel being overtaken.the way of the vessel being overtaken.
Any subsequent alteration of the bearing betweenAny subsequent alteration of the bearing between
the two vessels shall not make the overtakingthe two vessels shall not make the overtaking
vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning ofvessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of
these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keepingthese Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping
clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finallyclear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally
past and clear.past and clear.
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Rule 16 - Action by the GiveRule 16 - Action by the Give
Way VesselWay Vessel
Every vessel which is directed to keep out ofEvery vessel which is directed to keep out of
the way of another vessel shall, so far asthe way of another vessel shall, so far as
possible, takepossible, take early and substantial actionearly and substantial action
to keep well clear.to keep well clear.
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Rule 17 - Action by Stand-onRule 17 - Action by Stand-on
VesselVessel
a) i) Wherea) i) Where one of two vesselsone of two vessels is to keep out of theis to keep out of the
way the other shall keep her course and speed.way the other shall keep her course and speed.
ii) The latter vessel may however take action toii) The latter vessel may however take action to
avoid collision by her manoeuvre alone, as soonavoid collision by her manoeuvre alone, as soon
as it becomes apparent to her that the vesselas it becomes apparent to her that the vessel
required to keep out of the way is not takingrequired to keep out of the way is not taking
appropriate action in compliance with theseappropriate action in compliance with these
Rules.Rules.
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Rule 17 - Action by Stand-onRule 17 - Action by Stand-on
Vessel cont.Vessel cont.
b) When, from any cause, the vessel required tob) When, from any cause, the vessel required to
keep her course and speed finds herself sokeep her course and speed finds herself so
close that collision cannot be avoided by theclose that collision cannot be avoided by the
action of the give-way vessel alone, she shallaction of the give-way vessel alone, she shall
take such action as will best aid to avoidtake such action as will best aid to avoid
collision.collision.
““Basically if you hit anybody, or anybodyBasically if you hit anybody, or anybody
hits you, blame will be apportioned, dependinghits you, blame will be apportioned, depending
upon the circumstances, nobody gets off “upon the circumstances, nobody gets off “
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Rule 34 - ManoeuvringRule 34 - Manoeuvring
SignalsSignals
a) When vessels area) When vessels are in sight of one anotherin sight of one another, a, a
power-driven vessel underwaypower-driven vessel underway, shall indicate, shall indicate
manoeuvring as follows:manoeuvring as follows:
- 1 short blast (altering to starboard)- 1 short blast (altering to starboard)
- 2 short blasts (altering to port)- 2 short blasts (altering to port)
- 3 short blasts (operating astern propulsion)- 3 short blasts (operating astern propulsion)
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Rule 34 - ManoeuvringRule 34 - Manoeuvring
Signals cont.Signals cont.
e) A vessel nearing a bend or an area ofe) A vessel nearing a bend or an area of
a channel or fairway where othera channel or fairway where other
vessels may be obscured by anvessels may be obscured by an
intervening obstruction shall sound 1intervening obstruction shall sound 1
prolonged blast. Such signal shall beprolonged blast. Such signal shall be
answered with a prolonged blast by anyanswered with a prolonged blast by any
approaching vessel that may be withinapproaching vessel that may be within
hearing around the bend or behind thehearing around the bend or behind the
intervening obstruction.intervening obstruction.
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Rule 19 - Conduct of VesselsRule 19 - Conduct of Vessels
in Restricted Visibilityin Restricted Visibility
This rule applies to vesselsThis rule applies to vessels not in sight ofnot in sight of
one anotherone another when navigatingwhen navigating in or nearin or near
an area of restricted visibility.an area of restricted visibility.
Every vessel shall proceed at a safeEvery vessel shall proceed at a safe
speed adapted to the prevailingspeed adapted to the prevailing
circumstances and conditions ofcircumstances and conditions of
restricted visibility. A power-drivenrestricted visibility. A power-driven
vessel shall have her engines ready forvessel shall have her engines ready for
immediate manoeuvre.immediate manoeuvre.
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Rule 19 - Conduct of VesselsRule 19 - Conduct of Vessels
in Restricted Visibility cont.in Restricted Visibility cont.
A vessel which detectsA vessel which detects by radar aloneby radar alone the presence ofthe presence of
another vessel shall determine if a close-quartersanother vessel shall determine if a close-quarters
situation is developing and/or risk of collision exists.situation is developing and/or risk of collision exists.
If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time,If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time,
provided that when such action consists of anprovided that when such action consists of an
alteration of course, the following shall be avoided:alteration of course, the following shall be avoided:
a) alteration to port for vessel fwd of the beama) alteration to port for vessel fwd of the beam
b)alteration towards a vessel abeam/abaft theb)alteration towards a vessel abeam/abaft the
beambeam
