Part A - General

Question 1

Rule 1a - Shall Apply

Answer 1

These rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by sea going vessels.

Question 2

Rule 1b - Authority

Answer 2

Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall conform as closely as possible to these rules.

Question 3

Rule 1c - made by government

Answer 3

Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the government of any state with respect to additional STATION OR SIGNAL LIGHTS, SHAPES OR WHISTLE SIGNALS for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to STATION OR SIGNAL LIGHTS, SHAPES for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet.

These additional STATION OR SIGNAL LIGHTS, SHAPES OR WHISTLE SIGNALS shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken for any light shape or signal authorized elsewhere under these rules.

Question 4

Rule 1d - TSS

Answer 4

Traffic Separation schemes may be adopted by the organization

for the purpose of these rules.

Question 5

Rule 1e - Government Concerned

Answer 5

Whenever the government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special construction or purpose

cannot comply fully with the provisions of any of these rules

with respect to the NUMBER, POSITION, RANGE OR ARC OF VISIBILITY, of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound signalling appliances,

such vessel shall comply with other such provisions in regard to the NUMBER, POSITION, RANGE OR ARC OF VISIBILITY, of lights or shapes as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound signalling appliances,

as her government a shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these rules in respect of that vessel.

Question 6

Rule 2a - nothing

Answer 6

Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, master, owner or crew thereof from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these rules

or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case.

Question 7

Rule 2b - in construing

Answer 7

In construing and complying with these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved,

which may make a departure of these rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

Question 8

Rule 3 - vessel

Answer 8

The word vessel includes any description of watercraft including non displacement craft, WIG craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water.

Question 9

Rule 3b - PDV

Answer 9

The term power driven vessel means any vessel propelled by machinery.

Question 10

Rule 3c - Sailing vessel

Answer 10

The term sailing vessel means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery if fitted, is not being used.

Question 11

Rule 3d - fishing vessel

Answer 11

The term “vessel engaged in fishing” means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restrict manoeuvrability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict manoeuvrability.

Question 12

Rule 3e - seaplane

Answer 12

The word seaplane INCLUDES any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water

Question 13

Rule 3f - NUC

Answer 13

The term vessel NUC means a vessel which trough some exceptional circumstances is unable to manoeuvre as required by these rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

Question 14

Rule 3g - RAM

Answer 14

The term “vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre” means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

Question 15

Rule 3h - CBD

Answer 15

The term vessel constrained by draught means a POWER DRIVEN vessel which, because of her draught in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water, is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following.

Question 16

Rule 3i - underway

Answer 16

The word underway means that a vessel is not at anchor or made fast to the shore, or aground.

Question 17

Rule 3J - Length and Breadth

Answer 17

The words length and breadth of a vessel mean her overall length and greatest breadth.

Question 18

Rule 3k in sight

Answer 18

Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.

Question 19

Rule 3i - res vis

Answer 19

The term restricted visibility means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any similar causes.

Question 20

Rule 3m - WIG

Answer 20

The term “Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft” means a multimodal craft which, in its main operational mode, flies in close proximity to the surface by utilizing surface-effect action.

Question 21

3g - RAM Not limited to

Answer 21

The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable or pipeline;
a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;

a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway;

a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;

a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;

a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing
vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course