Rule 1: Application
- International Rules apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels
- Inland Rules apply to all vessels upon the inland waters of the United States
- “Inland Waters” means the navigable waters of the U.S. shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers and other inland waters of the U.S.
Rule 2: Responsibility
If a collision occurs, the excuse of following the rules will not be considered adequate. Any vessel involved in a collision will have some responsibility for the accident.
Rule 3: General Definitions
- Vessel
- Every description of water craft, including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes
- Power Driven Vessel
- Any vessel propelled by machinery
- Sailing Vessel**
- Any vessel under sail, not propelled by any machinery
- Vessel engaged in fishing
- Any vessel with nets, trawls, or other fishing apparatus that restricts maneuverability
- Vessel Not Under Command (NUC)
- Any vessel that through exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver required by the RoR
- Vessel Constrained By Draft (CBD)
- A vessel whose draught in relation to depth of water is severely restricted in here ability to deviate from her course (Int. only)
Rule 3: Gen. Definitions Cont.
- Vessel Restricted in her Ability to Maneuver (RAM)
- A vessel who through the nature of her work is unable to maneuver as required by the Rules and is unable to keep out of the way of other vessels.
- Engaged in laying or servicing navigation mark, submarine cable, or pipeline
- Engaged in dredging or underwater operations
- U/W replenishments
- Flight Ops
- Mineclearance Ops
- Towing operations which severely restricts their ability to deviate from their course
- A vessel who through the nature of her work is unable to maneuver as required by the Rules and is unable to keep out of the way of other vessels.
Rule 3: General Definitions Cont.
- Underway
- A vessel not at anchor, or made fast to shore, or aground
- In Sight of One Another
- Only when on can be observed visually from the other
- Restricted Visibility
- Any condition where visibility is restricted by fog, mist, snow, rain, sandstorm, etc.
Rule 4: Application
Rules of this section apply to any condition of visibility
Rule 5: Look Out
- Every vessel shall maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing. In addition, they must use all appropriate means appropriate in the prevailing conditions to make a full appraisal of the situation.
Rule 6: Safe Speed
Vessels shall proceed at a safe speed in order to take effective action to avoid collision within a distance appropriate to prevailing circumstances and conditions.
- Factors
- Visibility
- Traffic density
- Maneuverability of the vessel
- Background lighting
- Winds, seas and current
- Draft in realtion to the depth of water
Risk 7: Risk of Collision
All available means shall be used to determine if risk of collision exists; if in doubt, assume that it does.
RADAR shall be used to obtain early warning of risk if equipped and operational.
Do not rely on scanty information.
Take into account: Constant Bearing-Decreasing Range (CBDR)
Rule 8: Actions to Avoid Collision
- Any action taken to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive and in ample time
- Any alteration of course or speed to avoid collision shall be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or on radar
- Alteration of course will probably be the most efficient means of avoiding collision provided that it does not result in another close quarters situation
Rule 9: Narrow Channels
- Stay to the STBD side of the channel
- Vessels <20m in length, Sail, Fish and crossing vessels shall not impede the passage of a vessel that can only safely navigate in a narrow channel
- Avoid anchoring
- Sound 1 prolonged blast when nearing an obscured bend or area or fairway
Rule 10: Traffic Seperation Scheme (TSS)
- Proceed in the appropriate direction for the lane
- Keep clear of the separation zone
- Join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane, with as shallow an angle as practical
- Do not cross a TSS, if obliged do it with right angle to the direction of the TSS
- Do not enter a separation zone except:
- in cases of emergency
- to engage in fishing within a separation zone
- to cross the TSS
Rule 11: Application
These Rules ONLY apply to vessels in Visual Sight of one another
Rule 12: Sailing Vessels
- Each vessel has the wind on a different side
- __The vessel that has the wind on the port side shall move
- Both vessels have the wind on the same side
- __The vessel that is windward shall keep out of the way of the leeward vessel
- If a vessel with the wind on the port side sees another vessel to windward, but cannot determine on which side the wind is relative to the observed, she shall assume she is give way and keep out of the way
Rule 13: Overtaking Situation
- If approaching a vessel from more than 22.5º degrees abaft the beam
- Vessel overtaking: keep out of the way of the overtaken
- If in doubt as to whether an overtaking situation exists, assume that it does and act accordingly
Rule 14: Head On Situation
- PDVs on reciprocal or near reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, unless other wise agreed: Each vessel shall alter course to STBD and pass PORT to PORT
- If in doubt whether a head-on situation exists, assume it does
- Inland only- A PDV traveling on the:
- Great Lakes
- West Rivers
- Waters specified by the Secretary of Transportation
has right-of-way over a vessel traveling against the current
Rule 15: Crossing Situation
- When two PDVs are crossing paths so as to involve a risk of collision
- The vessel that has the other vessel on her STBD side shall keep out of her way and shall avoid crossing ahead
- Inland only: A PDV crossing a river shall keep out of the way of a PDV ascending or descending the river
Rule 16: Action of the Give Way Vessel
Every vessel that 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.
Rule 17: Action of the Stand On Vessel
- Where one vessel is to keep out of the way, the other shall maintain course and speed.
- Stand-on vessel may take action to avoid collision, as soon as it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking the appropriate action in compliance with the Rules.
- Stand-on vessel shall take action when collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone.
- Should a stand-on vessel maneuver in a crossing situation, she shall avoid altering course to port.
- Nothing in this rule relieves the give-way vessel from her responsibility to keep out of the way of the stand-on vessel.
Rule 18: Responsibility between Vessels
This rule applies only when not otherwise required by Narrow Channel, TSS and Overtaking rules
- Seaplane
- PDV
- Sailing
- Fishing
- Intl. only - Constrained by Draft
- RAM
- NUC
Rule 19 - Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
Applies to vessels NOT IN SIGHT
- Every vessel must proceed at a safe speed adapted to the visibility. A PDV shall have her engines ready for immediate maneuver
Vessel Detected by RADAR alone: Determine if a close-quarters or CBDR situation is developing. If so, take avoiding action, but avoid:
- An alteration of course to port for a vessel fwd of the beam (except a vessel being overtaken) should be avoided.
- An alteration of course toward a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.
Vessel detected by fog signal alone: Except when there is no risk of collision, reduce speed to bare steerage. If necessary, take all way off and proceed only with extreme caution until the danger of collision is over
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01 - Navigation Principles11
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02- Fundamentals of Plotting16
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03 - Fixes, Running Fixes, Dead Reckoning6
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04 - Chart Preparation9
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05 - Track Preparation7
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06 - Anchorage Plotting6
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07 - Basic Plotting6
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12 - Visibility of Lights18
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13 - Tides and Current Concepts21
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15 - Time & Navigation7
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16 1/2 - NAV Brief, Pubs, & Records18
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16 2/2: Voyage Planning4
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17 - Marine Weather23
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20 - RoR21
