Navigation Rules: Basics

1. Navigation Rules: Basics COMDTINST M16672.2D

2. Objectives • GIVEN a Navigation Rules and Regulations Manual, students will be able to APPLY the rules while piloting a vessel underway.

3. Part A - General Rule 1: Applicability International (a) These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels. Inland (a) These Rules apply to all vessels upon the inland waters of the United States, and to vessels of the United States on the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes to the extent that there is no conflict with Canadian law.

4. Rule 2: Responsibility Both Inland and International (a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case. (b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

5. PART B - STEERING AND SAILINGRULESSubpart I - Conduct of Vessels in Any Condition of Visibility Both Inland and International Rule 4: Application - Rules in this section apply to any condition of visibility. Rule 5: Lookout - Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by 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.

6. Rule 6: Safe Speed Both Inland and International 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.

7. Factors to Determine Safe Speed In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be among those taken into account: (a) By all vessels: (i) The state of visibility;(ii) The traffic density including concentrations of fishing vessels or any other vessels;(iii) The manageability of the vessel with special reference to stopping distance and turning ability in the prevailing conditions;(iv) At night, the presence of background light such as from shore lights or from back scatter from her own lights;(v) The state of wind, sea and current, and the proximity of navigational hazards;(vi) The draft in relation to the available depth of water.

8. Vessels with Radar Additionally, by vessels with operational radar: (i) The characteristics, efficiency and limitations of the radar equipment;(ii) Any constraints imposed by the radar range scale in use;(iii) The effect on radar detection of the sea state, weather and other sources of interference;(iv) The possibility that small vessels, ice and other floating objects may not be detected by radar at an adequate range;(v) The number, location and movement of vessels detected by radar;(vi) The more exact assessment of the visibility that may be possible when radar is used to determine the range of vessels or other objects in the vicinity.

9. Rule 7: 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 long-range 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 or a tow or when approaching a vessel at close range.

10. Rule 8: Action to Avoid Collision (a) Any action shall [be taken in accordance with the Rules of this Part and], 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.

11. Rule 8 (continued) (d) Action taken to avoid collision with another vessel shall be such as to result in passing at a safe distance. The effectiveness of the action shall be carefully checked until the other vessel is finally past and clear. (e) If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel may slacken her speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing her means of propulsion.

12. Rule 8 (continued) (f) (i) A vessel which, by any of these rules, is required not to impede the passage or safe passage of another vessel shall, when required by the circumstances of the case, take early action to allow sufficient sea room for the safe passage of the other vessel. (ii) A vessel required not to impede the passage or safe passage of another vessel is not relieved of this obligation if approaching the other vessel so as to involve risk of collision and shall, when taking action, have full regard to the action which may be required by the rules of this part. (iii) A vessel, the passage of which is not to be impeded remains fully obliged to comply with the rules of this part when the two vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision.

13. Subpart II - Conduct of Vesselsin Sight of One Another Rule 11: Application - Rules in this section apply to vessels in sight of one another.

14. Rule 13: Overtaking (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules [of Part B, Sections I and II | 4 through 18], 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 a 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 sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly.(d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear.

16. Rule 14: Head-on Situation • Unless otherwise agreed 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 a 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 or both sidelights and by day she observes the 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.

18. Rule 15: Crossing Situation Inland (a) 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.(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or water specified by the Secretary, a power-driven vessel crossing a river shall keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel ascending or descending the river.

19. Rule 15: Crossing Situation

20. Rule 16: Action by Give-wayVessel 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.

21. Rule 17: Action by Stand-on 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 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 these Rules.

22. Rule 17 (continued) (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 give-way vessel alone, sheshall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.(c) A power driven vessel which takes action in a crossing situation in accordance with subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Rule to avoid collision with another power-driven vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, not alter course to port for a vessel on her own port side.(d) This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligation to keep out of the way.

23. Rule 18 – ResponsibilitiesBetween Vessels • N- Not Under Command and R- Restricted in Ability to Maneuver • C- Constrained by Draft • F- Fishing • S- Sailboat • P- Power Driven • S- Seaplanes • W- Wig Craft

24. Rule 18 (continued)

25. Subpart III - Conduct of Vesselsin Restricted Visibility Rule 19: Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility (a) This Rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility.(b) 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.(c) Every vessel shall have due regard to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility when complying with the Rules

26. Rule 19 (continued) (d) 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 in 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; (ii)An alteration of course toward a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.

28. Part C - Lights and Shapes Rule 21: Definitions (a) "Masthead light" means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel,

29. Rule 21 (continued) (b) "Sidelights" means a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side.

30. Rule 21 (continued) (c) "Sternlight" means a white light placed as nearly as practicable at the stern showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135 degrees and so fixed as to show the light 67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.

31. Rule 21 (continued) d) "Towing light" means a yellow light having the same characteristics as the "sternlight" defined in paragraph (c) of this Rule. (e) "All-round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees.(f) "Flashing light" means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more per minute

32. Rule 21 (continued) g) "Special flashing light" means a yellow light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 50 to 70 flashes per minute, placed as far forward and as nearly as practicable on the fore and aft centerline of the tow and showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of not less than 180 degrees nor more than 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to abeam and no more than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel.

34. Rule 23: Power-driven Vessels Underway

35. Rule 23 (continued)

36. Rule 23 (continued)

37. Rule 24: Towing and Pushing

38. Rule 25: Sailing VesselsUnderway and Vessels Under Oars

39. Part D - Sound and Light Signals • Prolonged Blast – 4 - 6 Seconds • Short Blast – About 1 second • Inland • <12m – Some means of making an efficient sound signal • 12-99m – Whistle, Bell • >100m Whistle, Bell, Gong • Inland • <12m – Some means of making an efficient sound signal • 12-19m – Whistle • 20-99m – Whistle, Bell • >100m Whistle, Bell, Gong

40. Rule 34: Maneuvering andWarning Signals • One short blast – “I intend to leave you on my port side”. • Two shortblasts – “I intend to leave you on my starboard side”. • Three shortblasts – “I am operating astern propulsion”.

41. Rule 34 (continued) • One short blast – “I intend to overtake you on your starboard side”. • Two short blasts – “I intend to overtake you on your port side”. • (d) When vessels in sight of one another are approaching each other and from any cause either vessel fails to understand the intentions or actions of the other, the vessel in doubt shall immediately indicate such doubt by giving at least five short and rapid blasts on the whistle.

42. Rule 35: Sound Signals InRestricted Visibility Not more than 2 minutes unless otherwise noted! – Power-driven making way – – Power-driven underway but stopped, making no way – •• Vessel not under command, vessel restricted in ability to maneuver, vessel constrained by draft, sailing vessel, vessel engaged in fishing, or vessel engaged in towing or pushing – ••• Vessel being towed or last vessel of tow, if manned

43. Rule 35 (continued) • Anchored • Vessels less than100m – Rapid ringing of bell for 5 seconds every minute • Vessels greater than 100M – A bell shall be sounded in the forepart of the vessel and immediately after the ringing of the bell the gong shall be sounded rapidly for about 5 seconds in the after part of the vessel. • Aground – Three strokes of bell immediately before and after an “Anchored” bell signal · · · ------------- · · ·

44. Rule 37: Distress Signals

45. Rule 37 (continued)