International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

COLREGS
Lecture 5

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

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Steering and Sailing Rules

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• Part A – GENERAL
Rules 1-3
• Part B – STEERING AND SAILING RULES
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rules 4-10
Section II. Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Another
Rules 11-18
Section III. Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
Rule 19
• Part C – LIGHTS AND SHAPES
Rules 20-31
• Part D – SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS
Rules 32-37
• Part E – EXEMPTIONS
Rule 38
• ANNEXES
I Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes.
II Additional Signals for Fishing Vessels Fishing in Close Proximity.
III Technical Details of Sound Signal Appliances.
IV Distress Signals.
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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

a) This Rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or
near an area of restricted visibility.

b) Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing

circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. A power-driven
vessel shall have her engines ready for immediate manoeuvre.

c) Every vessel shall have due regard to the prevailing circumstances and
conditions of restricted visibility when complying with the Rules of Section I
of this Part.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

In accordance with Rule 19 (a) (Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility ), Rule 19 applies
to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or near an area of restricted
visibility .
In accordance with Rule 3 (k) (General definitions), vessel shall be deemed to be in sight of
one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.
In accordance with Rule 3 (l) (General definitions), the term restricted visibility means any
condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms,
sandstorms or other similar causes. 5
 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

In accordance with Rule 19 (b) (Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility ), every vessel
shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of
restricted visibility . A power-driven vessel shall have her engines ready for immediate
manoeuvre.
In accordance with Rule 6 (Safe speed ), every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe
speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped
within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

In accordance with Rule 19 (c) (Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility ), every vessel
shall have due regard to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility
when complying with the Rules of section I of part B.
Comments:
In conducting of vessels in restricted visibility every vessel shall have due regard in
complying with Rules of section I of part B:
- Rule 4 (Application)
- Rule 5 (Look-out )
- Rule 6 (Safe speed )
- Rule 7 (Risk of collision)
- Rule 8 (Action to avoid collision)
- Rule 9 (Narrow channels)
- Rule 10 (Traffic separation schemes)

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

d) A vessel which detects by radar alone the presence of another vessel shall
determine if a close-quarters situation is developing and/or risk of collision
exists. If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time, provided that
when such action consists of an alteration of course, so far as possible the
following shall be avoided:
i. an alteration of course to port for a vessel forwards of the beam, other than for a
vessel being overtaken;
ii. an alteration of course towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.

e) Except where it has been determined that a risk of collision does not exist,
every vessel which hears apparently forwards of her beam the fog signal of
another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with another
vessel forwards of her beam, shall reduce her speed to the minimum at
which she can be kept on her course. She shall if necessary take all her way
off and in any event navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision
is over. 8
 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

In accordance with Rule 19 (d) (Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility ), a vessel which detects by
radar alone the presence of another vessel shall determine if a close-quarters situation is developing
and/or risk of collision exists. If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time, provided that when
such action consists of an alteration of course, so far as possible the following shall be avoided:
(i) an alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being
overtaken;
(ii) an alteration of course towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.
In accordance with Rule 7 (b) (Risk of collision), proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted
and operational, including long-range scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision and radar
plotting or equivalent systematic observation of detected objects. 9
 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Cockcroft maneuvering diagram 10

 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 19 Section III. Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

In accordance with Rule 19 (e) (Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility ), except where it has been
determined that a risk of collision does not exist, every vessel which hears apparently forward of her
beam the fog signal of another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with another
vessel forward of her beam, shall reduce her speed to the minimum at which she can be kept on her
course. She shall if necessary take all her way off and in any event navigate with extreme caution until
danger of collision is over.
In accordance with Rule 35 (Sound signals in restricted visibility ), in or near an area of restricted
visibility, whether by day or night, the signals prescribed in Rule 35 shall be used. 11
 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part D – Sound and light signals
Rule 35

Sound signals in restricted visibility

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