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BOATING SKILLS AND SEAMANSHIP. Lesson 6 The Rules We Must Follow. Lesson Objectives (1). The importance of Navigation Rules The rules and where they apply How the rules apply to boaters in different situations The differences between the inland and international rules
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BOATING SKILLS AND SEAMANSHIP Lesson 6 The Rules We Must Follow Approved by DC-E USCG AuxA, Inc
Lesson Objectives (1) • The importance of Navigation Rules • The rules and where they apply • How the rules apply to boaters in different situations • The differences between the inland and international rules • The General Responsibility Rule
Lesson Objectives (2) • How liability for an accident is assessed • Your responsibility for helping other people • Safe conduct for your vessel • Proper sound signals for different situations • The proper light configuration for your vessel
Lesson Objectives (3) • The rules of operation and sounds to be made in restricted visibility • What lights and shapes tell you • Legal distress signals
Navigation Rules • Purpose - Prevent Collisions • Apply to - Everyone • Two sets - Inland and International • Divided by - Line of Demarcation established by: • USCG Commandant
Definitions • Power driven vessel • Any vessel propelled by machinery • Underway • Not anchored, not aground, not made fast to shore • Making way • Being propelled • Others • Fishing vessel • Restricted in ability to maneuver • Not under command • Constrained by draft
General Responsibility Rule • Two principal aspects • Rule of Good Seamanship • Basically • Follow the rules, but • Use good seamanship to depart from the rules to avoid immediate danger
General Responsibility Rule • Consider all dangers to navigation • Consider special circumstances • Immediate danger
Assessing Legal Liability • All parties usually share some responsibility for an accident • If you violate the rules, and have a collision, you may be at least partly responsible no matter what the other skipper does
Your Responsibility • Any damage your boat wake may cause to other boats or injuries suffered by your passengers or others. • Anything your boat does or anything that happens to your boat
Federal Law • You must provide whatever assistance you can to anyone at sea in need of help GOOD SAMARITAN CLAUSE • You cannot be held liable for anything you do or don’t do when rendering assistance in good faith provided there is no objection
General Considerations • Large vs Small vessels • Give large vessels room • Maintain a lookout • Have a designated lookout • Safe speed • Slow enough to avoid collision • Radar • An extra set of eyes • Increased responsibility
Operation in Narrow Channels • Keep to right • Don’t cross in path of other vessels • Don’t anchor except in emergency • Inland only: • “Downbound” vessel has right-of way
Traffic Separation Schemes International Rules Vessel Traffic Services
Stand-on vs Giveway • Stand-on • Vessel on right(sees green light) • Vessel being overtaken • Must maintain course and speed • Giveway • Sees red, red & green, or white light • Must keep out of way • Rules for sailing vessels • Wind on Starboard side is stand on • Give way if windward of another sailboat
Meeting vessel Give-away crossing vessels Stand-on crossing vessels ARC of red light 112.5o ARC of green light 112.5o ARC of white light 135o Overtaking vessels The 3 Situations
Constant Bearing • Constant bearing + decreasing range = collision course • Make course change large enough to be evident (at least 60 degrees)
Sound Signals • SHORT BLAST (1 Sec) • A MANEUVERING SIGNAL • PROLONGED BLAST (4-6 Sec) • ALSO A MANEUVERING SIGNAL • ATTENTION GETTER, USE WHEN: • LEAVING A DOCK • APPROACHING SHARP BEND • IN FOG OR RESTRICTED VISIBILITY
Sound Signals • Sound signals underway • Intl & Inland different words, same result • 1 short pass with you on my port • 2 short pass you on my starboard • 3 short operating in reverse • 5 or more short danger/doubt • International meeting • Signal action I’m taking • No response required unless danger/doubt • Inland meeting • Signal intention • Respond same if agree, danger/doubt if not
“Passing” Situations • Meeting • Head-on or nearly so • No right-of-way • Port-to-port preferred • Crossing • Side light visible • Right’s right - pass astern • Overtaking • No side lights visible • White stern light • Overtaking - stay clear
2 prolonged Followed by 1 short blast Stand-On Vessel Give-Way Vessel 2 prolonged Followed by 2 short blast 1 prolonged 1 short 1 prolonged and 1 Short blast 1 prolonged 1 short 1 prolonged and 1 Short blast Overtaking in Narrow Channels, Intl Rules
Restricted Visibility • When not in sight • No vessel is stand-on • Sound signals - underway • Every 2 minutes • Power boat - 1 long blast • Sailboat - 1 long blast, 2 short blasts • Not making way - 2 long blasts
Sound signals not underway • Anchor: • 12 meters or greater – ring bell rapidly for 5 seconds every one minutes. • Less than 12 meters – make sound every 2 minutes. • 100 meters or more – bell in forepart followed by gong in aft part every one minute. • May also sound one short, one prolonged and 1 short whistle. • Aground: Same as at anchor with 3 distinct strokes of bell immediately before and after rapid ringing of bell. • Special anchorage: vessels less than 20 meters do not sound signals.
Vessel Lights • All boats • Side lights • Red = port, green = starboard • 112 1/2 degrees each • Stern Light • White • 135 degrees • Power boats, add • Masthead light • White • 225 degrees • If less than 12m, can combine stern and mast-head lights with one 360 degree white light
Abeam Port Side 22.5o 112.5o Red Sector Dead Ahead White Sector 135o Green Sector 112.5o 22.5o Abeam Starboard Side Light Sectors
Special Lights • Fishing Vessels • Vessels constrained by draft • Towing vessels • Vessels at anchor
anchored not under command under sail and power fishing vessel Day Shapes Approved by DC-E USCG AuxA, Inc
Signal Mirror Code Flags (November-Charlie) Arm Waving Visual Distress Signals
Other Distress signals • Gun fired every minute • Continuous sounding of fog signal • Voice radio signal - MAYDAY • Signal flags - N C • Fire on vessel • EPIRB signal
Diving Flags Near Diver During Diving On Boat during Diving
Drawbridges • Limitations • Signals
Homeland Security Measures • 1-877-24WATCH • 1-800-424-8802
Summary • Purpose of rules • Inland and International • General Responsibility • Liability • Proper sounds and lights • Restricted visibility • Lights and shapes • Distress signals