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- Cover
Read on ► - Editorial
Mark Voorham, CEO SMT Shipping.
Read on ► - Content
A tribute to Jan Kita
Read on ► - SMT News
Three new Bulkers to Join SMT Fleet in Q1 2020
Read on ► - SMT News 2
Santa Claus sponsored by SMT in Gdansk & Nautical News online
Read on ► - SMT News 3
SMT Shipping adds six more Vectis types to the CSMT fleet & Crew Conference in Manila 2019
Read on ► - SMT News 4
More conferences around the world
Read on ► - SMT News 5
SMT Impacted by Venezuelan Sanctions & Mastering the Cape Verga Pearl I
Read on ► - Think SAFE
Staying healthy and germ-free
Read on ► - SpotLight
SMT Renews Cadet Program with University in Trinidad
Read on ► - SpotLight 2
In Their Own Words: The Cadet Experience
Read on ► - Captain's Corner
Increase your knowledge
Read on ► - The Galley & Chess
The matches between Karpov and Kasparov
Read on ► - Promotions
35 promotions!
Read on ► - SMT Personal
Events in the life of smt staff
Read on ► - SUMMER 2020
Read on ► - SPRING 2020
Read on ► - WINTER 2019 - 2020
Read on ►
2. The Rule of the Road
Rule 18. Responsibilities between vessels
Except in narrow channels, traffic separation schemes, and when overtaking (i.e., rules 9, 10, and 13)
A power-driven vessel must give way to:
- a vessel not under command;
- a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver (this may include vessels towing one another);[20]
- a vessel engaged in fishing;
- a sailing vessel.
A sailing vessel must give way to:
- a vessel not under command;
- a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver;
- a vessel engaged in fishing.
A vessel vessel engaged in fishing when underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of:
- a vessel not under command;
- a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
Any vessel other than a vessel not under command or a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver shall, if possible, not impede the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft, exhibiting the signals in Rule 28.
A vessel constrained by her draft shall navigate with particular caution having full regard to her special condition.
3. What would the captain do?
You are underway in restricted visibility. You hear the fog signal of another vessel about 22° on your starboard bow. If danger of collision you must:
- reduce your speed to bare steerageway
- slow your engines and let the other vessel pass ahead of you
- alter the course to starboard to pass around the other vessel’s stern
- alter course to port to pass the other vessel on its port side
Did you know... No right of way!
A commonly held misconception concerning the rules of marine navigation is that by following specific rules, a vessel can gain certain rights of way over other vessels. No vessel ever has absolute ‘right of way’ over other vessels. Rather, there can be a ‘give way’ (burdened) vessel and a ‘stand’ (privileged) vessel, or there may be two give way vessels with no stand on vessel.
A stand on vessel does not have an absolute right of way over any give way vessel, and is not free to maneuver however it wishes, but is obliged to keep a constant course and speed (so as to help the give way vessel in determining a safe course).
Furthermore, a stand on vessel may still be obliged (under Rule 2 and Rule 17) to give way, in particular when a situation has arisen where a collision can no longer be avoided by actions of the give way vessel alone. For example, two power-driven vessels approaching each other head-to-head, are both deemed to be ‘give way’ and both are required to alter course so as to avoid colliding with the other. Neither vessel has ‘right of way’.