International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea (IRPCS) Quick Quiz

1. International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea (IRPCS)Quick Quiz

2. Rule 1 Do the Rules apply in the upper reaches of a tidal river, e.g. on the River Fal at Truro? Yes, this is navigable water connected with the high seas

3. Rule 3 Do the Rules apply to seaplanes and Hovercraft? Does a sailing yacht which is motor-sailing count as a sailing vessel or as a power-driven vessel in the Rules? You are drifting with sails up but the speed through the water is zero. Are you “under way”? Yes, they apply to all watercraft capable of being used for transport on water. As a power-driven vessel. Yes, any vessel not at anchor not made fast to the shore not aground is underway.

4. Rule 5 How often and by what means should a vessel maintain a look-out? At all times, by sight, sound and all available means. Note: this rule applies to all vessels including single-handed sailors

5. Rule 6 What is a safe speed? A speed which will allow time for effective action to be taken to avoid a collision. Consider: Visibility, Draught / Depth of water, Weather / Sea State, Traffic, Hazards

6. Rule 7 What is the principal indicator that a risk of collision exists? When the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not change.

7. Rule 8 Does the rule require any alteration of course or speed to avoid a collision to be large or to be a succession of small alterations? Large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel. A succession of small alterations is to be avoided.

8. Rule 9 What special onus is put on sailing vessels and vessels less than 20m in length in narrow channels? They must not impede the passage of a vessel which can navigate safely only in the channel.

9. Rule 10 When you must cross a traffic separation scheme lane what heading should be used? The heading should be as nearly as practicable at right angles to the traffic flow.

10. Rule 11 Rules 12 – 18 applyonly to vessels who are in sight of one another. True or False? True

11. Rule 12 When two sailing vessels on opposite tacks meet which gives way to the other; • the vessel with the wind on the port side • the vessel with the wind on the starboard side •  

12. Rule 12 When two sailing vessels on the same tack meet which gives way to the other; • The vessel to windward of the other • The vessel to leeward of the other •  

13. Rule 12 A sailing vessel on port tack sees another sailing vessel ahead to windward but is not certain whether this yacht is on port or starboard tack. Does she: stand on or take action to avoid a collision?  • 

14. Rule 13 A fast sailing multi-hull is steadily overhauling a power driven cabin cruiser Which keeps clear? The overtaking vessel (sail or power) keeps clear.

15. Rule 14 When two power-driven vessels meet head on.Should they alter course: To port or To starboard? Each alters course to starboard

16. Rule 15 Two power-driven vessels are crossing. Who keeps clear: The vessel with the other on her port side? The vessel with the other on her starboard side? The vessel with the other on her starboard side.

17. Rule 16 What kind of action should be taken by the vessel required to keep clear? It should be _______and __________ early substantial

18. Rule 17 What is the “Stand-on” vessel required to do? Maintain her course and speed.

19. Rule 17 When should the “stand-on” vessel take action to avoid a collision? When a collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone.

20. Rule 18 List the following in order of priority(first listed gives way to second…) 1 Vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre 2 Power driven vessel 3 Vessel engaged in fishing 4 Sailing vessel 5 Vessel constrained by draught 2, 4, 3, 1, 5

21. Rule 19 In restricted visibility what must all vessels ensure as regards their speed and means of propulsion? Safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances Engines ready for immediate manoeuvre

22. Rule 20 During which of the following periods should navigation lights be exhibited? Dusk to dawn Sunset to sunrise In restricted visibility Sunset to sunrise. In restricted visibility

23. Rule 21 Match the lights listed to their arcs of visibility: Masthead light, Sidelight, Stern light, All round light 360º; 112.5º on each side of bow; 112.5º on one side of bow only; 67.5º on each side of stern All round light Masthead light Sidelight Stern light

24. Rule 22 What is the minimum range of visibility of lights for vessels under 12metres in length? Masthead & Sternlight: 1, 2, 3 or 6 miles Sidelights: 1, 2 or 3 miles Masthead & Sternlight 2 miles Sidelights 1 miles

25. Rule 23 Match the lengths overall to the illustrations: A: under 7m, max speed 7knots B: 12-20m C: under 12m B C C A

26. Rule 24 What additional lights are shown by a power vessel towing: A: length of tow 200m or less B: length of tow greater than 200m? One additional masthead light + yellow towing light at the stern Two additional masthead lights + yellow towing light at the stern

27. Rule 24 What lights are shown by a vessel being towed? Sidelights and a Sternlight

28. Rule 25 Which of the following light combinations are legal when sailing? A: 1, 2, 3 & 4 B: 1 C: 2, 3 & 4 D: 3 & 4 E: 1 & 2 •  •  •  •  • 

29. Rule 25 Which of the following light combinations are legal when under power? A: 1, 2, 3 & 4 B: 1 C: 2, 3 & 4 D: 3 & 4 E: 1 & 2 •  •  •  •  • 

30. Rule 26 What additional lights must a vessel engaged in trawling show at night? What shape must it show by day? All-round green over all-round white Two cones, apex together

31. Rule 26 What additional lights must a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling show at night? When its gear extends more than 150m to the side what further additional light and shape must it show? All-round red over all round white All-round white light in the direction of the gear

32. Annex II What lights should the following Fishing Vessels exhibit when fishing in Close Proximity: Trawler shooting nets? Trawler hauling nets? Pair trawling? Purse seiners? Nets fast on an obstruction? Two all-round white lights All-round white over all-round red Searchlight directed forward towards the other of the pair Two flashing yellow lights Two all-round red lights

33. Rule 27 What additional lights are shown by a vessel not under command? What shape does it show by day? Two all-round red lights Two balls in a vertical line

34. Rule 27 What additional lights are shown by a vessel restricted in its ability to manoeuvre? What shapes does it show by day? All-round red, white, red in a vertical line Ball, diamond, ball in a vertical line

35. Rule 27 What lights are shown by a vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations to show the obstructed side? And the clear side? Obstructed: two all-round red lights vertically Clear: two all-round green lights vertically

36. Rule 27 What additional lights are shown by a minesweeper at work? What shapes by day? Three all-round green lights, one at the masthead and one at the end of each yard Three balls arranged as above

37. Rule 28 What additional lights are shown by a vessel constrained by her draught? What shape is shown by day? Three all-round red lights A cylinder

38. Rule 29 What additional lights are shown by a vessel on pilot duty? All-round white over all-round red

39. Rule 30 What lights are shown by vessels less than 50m in length at anchor? What shape by day? What additional light is shown by a vessel greater than 50m long? All-round white light forward A ball forward An all-round white light low down near the stern

40. Rule 30 What lights are shown by vessels aground? What shape by day? Anchor lights plus two vertical all-round red lights Three balls in vertical line

41. Rule 32 How long is a “short blast”? How long is a “prolonged blast”? About one second From 4 – 6 seconds

42. Rule 33 What sound equipment should be carried by a vessel between 12 and 100m in length? What sound equipment should be carried by vessels less than 12m in length? A whistle and a bell (plus a gong for >100m) What sound equipment should be carried by vessels less than 12m in length? “some other means of making an efficient sound signal”

43. Rule 34 When the “Scillonian” makes the following sound signals in good visibility what do they mean? One short blast Two short blasts Three short blasts Five or more short and rapid blasts I am altering course to starboard I am altering course to port I am operating astern propulsion What are your intentions

44. Rule 34 What do the following signals mean when made between vessels in a narrow channel? Two prolonged followed by one short blast Two prolonged followed by two short blasts One long, one short, one long & one short One prolonged blast I intend to overtake on your starboard side I intend to overtake on your port side “OK go ahead” (by vessel being overtaken) given by vessels approaching blind bend

45. Rule 35 What sounds should the following vessels make in restricted visibility? A fishing vessel A vessel constrained by draught A vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre A vessel not under command One long followed by two short blasts every 2 mins Morse “D” Dah, Dit, Dit “Keep clear of me I am manoeuvring with difficulty”

46. Rule 35 What sounds should the following vessels make in restricted visibility? Power vessel underway Power driven vessel stopped, not making way A tug A sailing vessel One long blast every 2 minutes Two long blasts every 2 minutes One long followed by two short every 2 mins One long followed by two short blasts every 2 mins

47. Rule 35 If you hear in fog one prolonged blast followed by three short blasts what would you infer? If you hear in fog a bell being rung rapidly for 5 seconds every minute what would you infer? A vessel being towed is nearby A vessel (<100m) at anchor is nearby

48. Rule 35 What sound signals must be made in restricted visibility by vessels less than 12m in length? The normal signals as appropriate but if that is not possible some other sound at least every 2 minutes

49. Rule 37 List as many IRPCS distress signals as you can Gun or explosion once a minute Continuous sound from fog signal Rockets or shells throwing red stars SOS in Morse by any means “Mayday” on radio Code flags “NC” Flames (burning tar barrel) Flares (Rocket, Red, Orange) Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms Radiotelegraph alarm signal EPIRB signals SART signal (radar) DSC call (VHF) Square flag and round ball