Name: Gapoy, Frednixen B.

Date: October 29, 2021

Year and Section: BSMT 2- Alpha Subject: NAV 3

Reflective Learning Report 10

Instruction: Write a minimum of 300-word Reflective Learning Report. You may
refer to the guide questions below. Write legibly and submit your work at the end of
week 3.

Guide questions:

1) Importance of Rule 14. Share your thoughts in different perspective, what will
transpire if there is no Rule 14.

2) Who will adhere to Rule 14? Is it limited only to power-driven vessels?

3) Is Rule 14 imposed in the Philippines? Explain what your learnings are, as well as
your suggestions for the improvement of maritime disasters in the Philippines.

As we are all aware of, there is a higher risk of collision in open sea than in
narrow channels or fairways. In narrow channels and fairways, there are
predetermined routes that you must take so there’s rarely a case when you will be
involved in a head-on situation. On contrary, In open seas, you’ll be dealing with
fishing boats and other vessels that are steering reciprocal courses. Moreover, there
are no lateral buoys indicating where must you steer to at open sea.

As such, rule 14 is of great significance because by strictly abiding to the rule

14, seafarers could prevent collisions because they already know the procedures to do
when in a head-on situations. Rule 14 states that if vessels are meeting on reciprocal
or nearly reciprocal courses, each vessel shall then alter their course to starboard so
that they’ll pass on the port side of the other vessel. Moreover, it was mentioned
that when a vessel is unsure whether or not such a situation exists, she should
assume it does and proceed accordingly.This means that there is a risk of collision,
you must act as give way vessel and avoid the other vessel by altering the course to
starboard.
 Another importance of rule 14 is that it clearly states the condition when the
vessels could be considered ahead of the other vessel. If your vessel is dead ahead of
the other vessel, you may see both of the other vessel’s sidelights. Otherwise, you’ll
only be able to see the other sidelight. By clearly knowing and understanding this,
seafarers will not confuse it with crossing vessels.

Without the rule 14, or by not abiding to it, there will be higher risk of
collision because the vessels might both alter their course to the same side. Also,
without the clear explanation of what a head-on situation is, seafarers might wrongly
consider a situation as a crossing situation.

There are three conditions in order for rule 14 to be applicable. The first
condition is that this rule is only applicable to power-driven vessels. This implies that
it does not apply to sailing vessels because if sailing vessels meet on reciprocal or
nearly reciprocal courses, they have their own steering rules, which are governed by
Rule 12.

The next condition is that the vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly
reciprocal courses. Reciprocal courses are route precisely opposite to another one
embarked upon, or otherwise specified.

The last condition is that the vessels must be involved risk of collision. This
means that if there is no risk of collision, the vessels may alter their course to the
right.

Rule 14 is also being imposed in the Philippines. This is because Collision

Regulations apply to all vessels, including barges, tugs, yachts, commercial and
recreational fishing vessels, and cargo and passenger vessels, whether underway or
at anchor. These rules apply to all navigable waters, including inland waters and the
high seas.

In connection to rule 14, my suggestion for the improvement of maritime

disasters is for the seafarers to abide more strictly to the Collision Regulations. They
must always bear in mind the rule 14 so that they’ll prevent collision during head-on
situations.
 In addition to that, it is for the best for the seafarers to maintain a constant
lookout, both astern and forward. They must also be aware of their relation to all
boats, buoys, or other features. This is called "situation awareness". Preferably,they
must make use of all of the available navigational equipment such as binoculars,
radar, AIS, ECDIS, and ARPA. They must have keen senses, especially at night so that
they can see immediate danger ahead of time.

They must also make sure that their navigation lights are visible at night and
aren't obscured by sails, flags, or davit-mounted dinghies. If you see a vessel's
running lights but don't think you've been seen, start moving out of the way, using
sail flashlights, a spot-light, flash bulbs, or a white flare to indicate your position.

In conclusion, collisions have a variety of consequences-. The crew or

passengers are injured, or worse, die. Individuals may also experience grief and
sorrow as a result of this: wives may lose their husbands, children may lose their
fathers, and their financial situation may become uncertain. For this very reason,
seafarers must at all times maintain a situation awareness. They must do everything
they can to act accordingly to the situation. They must abide to rule 14 and other
rules written on the Collision Regulations.