Captain's

Corner

1. Know Your Flags

C - Charly

“affirmative”
This can also be signaled 
­­­by sound as Morse Code - . - .

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:

1. a vessel not under command;
2. a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver (this may include vessels towing one another);[20]
3. a vessel engaged in fishing;
4. a sailing vessel.

A sailing vessel must give way to:

1. a vessel not under command;
2. a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver;
3. a vessel engaged in fishing.

A vessel vessel engaged in fishing when underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of:

1. a vessel not under command;
2. 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:

1. reduce your speed to bare steerageway
2. slow your engines and let the other vessel pass ahead of you
3. alter the course to starboard to pass around the other vessel’s stern
4. 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’.

4. Identify the vessel

The vessel on the left is a capesize vessel Seacon Brazil, The vessel on the right is an SMT vessel – which one?

Captain’s Tip

In calm water, every ship has a good captain.

Answers

3. Conakry Pearl

4. Reduce your speed to bare steerageway