PART B-STEERING AND SAILING RULES (RULES 4-19)

Section 1- Conduct of Vessels in any condition of visibility

Section 2- Conduct of Vessels in sight of one another
Section 3- Conduct of Vessels in restricted visibility
SECTION 1- CONDUCT OF VESSELS IN ANY CONDITION OF VISIBILITY
Rule 4: Application
Rules in this section apply in Any condition of visibility.
RULE 5: LOOK-OUT
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.
 Maintain Proper Lookout
 Use all available means
Must use sight and hearing
Binoculars/Radar
Bearing circle/Alidade
Night vision devices
 Also required at anchor
RULE 6: SAFE SPEED
Determinants of Safe Speed
 Draft of vessel in relation to charted depth
 Stopping distance and turning ability
 Presence of background lighting
 State of winds, see, and current
 State of visibility
 Traffic density
 A Vessel must proceed at Safe speed "At all times"
RULE 7: RISK OF COLLISION
Every vessel shall use all available means to determine if risk of collision exists.
o Early use of RADAR to obtain early warning risk of collision
o Systematic observation
Such risk is deemed to exist if the compass bearing an approaching vessel does not
appreciably change
RULE 8: ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION
 Any action taken to avoid collision shall be positive, taken in ample time, and with due regard to
the observance of good seamanship.
 Action taken should be large enough to be readily apparent to the other vessel.
 Action taken to avoid collision with another vessel shall result in passing at a safe distance.
 The effectiveness of the action shall be carefully checked until the vessel is passed and clear.
Two variables can be altered to avoid collision: course and speed.
 Change course to avoid "close- quarter situations".
 Slacken speed or take all way to allow more time to assess the situation.
Even if you are the stand on vessel, you still must take action to AVOID COLLISION

RULE 9: NARROW CHANNELS

  Stay on the "right" side of the channel
 Sailing vessels and vessels < 20 meters shall not impede vessels restricted to the channel.
 Fishing vessels shall not impede other vessels.
 Crossing vessels shall not impede other vessels.
 Do not anchor in a channel
RULE 10: TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEMES
Traffic Separation schemes may be adopted by the IMO for the purpose of these Rules.
 Use small angle of approach to enter/depart.
 Cross the scheme at right angles.
 You can fish in the lanes are long as you do not impede passage of the other vessels.
 Small vessels and sailing vessels shall not impede the passage of a power-driven vessel in a lane.
SECTION 2- CONDUCT OF VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER
RULE 11: APPLICATION
Apply to vessels in sight of one another. No vessel has absolute right of way under the
COLREGS. side opposite the largest fore-and-aft sail.
RULE 12 - SAILING VESSELS
 When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of
them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows:
 For the purpose of this Rule the windward side shall be deemed to be the side opposite to that on
which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on
which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.
Sailing vessels;
Sailing yachts
General
Factors to consider if risk of collision exists:
−The point of sailing (the tack)
−The windward and leeward side
−The windward and leeward vessel
 Windward side: the side exposed to the wind
 Leeward side: side opposite to the side exposed to the wind
Main points of sailing
A sailing vessel can be on port and starboard tack and sail:
− clause hauled
− clause reaching
− beam reaching
− broad reaching
− running
RULE 13 – OVERTAKING
Overtaking another vessel
 The overtaking vessel keeps out of the way
 Rule 13 is exclusive
 Rule 13 applies to any vessel overtaking:
► Power-driven vessels
► Sailing vessels
► Seaplanes
► WIG crafts
► Vessels NUC
► Vessels restricted to maneuver
► Vessels constrained by their draught
► Fishing vessels
Also applies to vessels proceeding along a narrow channel or a traffic lane
These vessels must consequently keep out of the way of any vessel they are overtaking including:
− Sailing vessels
− Small power-driven vessels
− Vessels engaged in fishing
It has precedence over Rule 18 A vessel listed in any of the categories in Rule 18 must keep out of the
way of any vessel which she is overtaking:
− power-driven vessels
− sailing vessels
− seaplanes
− WIG crafts
− vessels NUC
− vessels restricted to maneuver
− vessels constrained by their draught
− fishing vessels
Thus:
must keep out of the way of any vessel they are overtaking
►Action by overtaking vessel
 Positive action in ample time
 Avoid crossing ahead
 Generally, alter course and speed:
► To pass astern or
► To follow parallel courses
Assume to be overtaking until overtaken vessel
is finally past and clear