Rules of the Road Flashcards
Rule 2 Responsibility
Known as Good Seamanship Rule.
Every captain, vessel owner, master, operator, and crew is obligated to comply with these navigation Rules and to do everything possible to avoid collision.
Rule 3 Definitions // Vessel
Every description of watercraft as a means of transportation on the water.
Power Driven Vessel
Propelled by machinery
Vessel engaged in Fishing
Nets, lines, trawls that RESTRICT MANEUVERABILITY
Vessel Not Under Command
Unable to maneuver
Vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuver (RAM)
Due to the nature of their work
Vessel Constrained by Draft
Available depth and width of navigable water
Underway
Not at anchor, or made fast to shore and or ground
Restricted Visibility
Fog, mist, snow, rain, smoke, or similar causes
Western Rivers
Mississippi and its tributaries
Great Lakes
Great Lakes and tributaries
Inland Waters
Navigable water dividing high seas from harbors, rivers and other inland waters of the US
Rule 4 -10
Apply to any condition of visibility
Rule 5 Look Out
Use every tool (eyes, ears, radar, radios) to lookout for possible collisions.
VHF Channel 16
Rule 6 Safe Speed
Take proper effective action to avoid collision and stop within a distance appropriate to prevailing circumstances and conditions.
Six Factors of Safe Speed
Visibility
Traffic Density
Maneuverability of Vessel
Background Light
State of wind/sea/current
Vessel’s Draft
Rule 7 Determine Risk of Collision
Use ALL available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists.
Determine Collision by Range and Bearing
Bearing is the direction of an object in relation to the observer.
Range is the distance between your boat and the object.
**Steady bearing and decreasing range indicate risk of collision.
Rule 8 Action to Avoid Collison
Positive action made in ample time with due regard to good seamanship.
Course and speed change MUST be obvious to the approaching vessel.
Rule 9 Narrow Channel
Most areas are narrow channels for large ships.
Stay to the starboard outer edge of the channel as safe and practical.
Fishing, sailing, and power vessels MUST NOT block channels.
Rule 10 Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS)
Essentially a traffic lane on the water designed to organize the movement of vessels coming and going from a location.
Rule 11
Rules apply to vessels that are In Sight of one another.
Rule 12 Sailing Vessels on different Tacks
Vessel with wind on the port side shall give way.
When both have the same wind, the windward (up wind) vessel shall give way.
Port side vessels that can not determine the other vessels wind shall give way.
Rule 13 Overtaking
The overtaking vessel must keep out of the way of the vessel being overtake IOT avoid collision.
Rule 14 Head on Situation
Alter course to starboard and pass port to port.
Rule 15 Crossing Situation
On the right is RIGHT.
The vessel with the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way and not cross to avoid collision.
Rule 16 Action by the Give Way Vessel
Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall take EARLY and SUBSTANTIAL action to KEEP CLEAR.
Rule 17 Action by the Stand-On Vessel
Three Step Process
1. Stand-On vessel Hold your course and speed.
- If it becomes apparent the give way vessel is not taking appropriate action. The Stand-On vessel MAY take action.
- If collision is imminent, the Stand-On vessel MUST take action.
Rule 18 Responsibilities between Vessels
Pecking Order
New Not under command
Reels Restricted Ability to Man
Catch Constrained by Draft
Fish Fishing
So Sailing
Purchase Power Driven
Some. Seaplane & WIG
Most responsible at the bottom working up
Does not apply to Rules 9, 10 and 13
Rule 19 Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
Every vessel should:
Operate at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and level of restricted visibility.
Have engines ready for immediate maneuver
Conduct SUBSTANTIAL, RIGOROUS and OPEN MINDED CONSIDERATIONS.
Rule 20 Application Lights and Shapes
Rules 20 -31 shall be complied with in ALL WEATHER.
Complied with from Sunset to Sunrise. No other lights shall be exhibited:
-Except lights that cant be mistaken for lights specified in the RULES.
-Do not impair their visibility or distinctive character
-Or interfere with a proper lookout
Shapes shall be complied with from Sunrise to Sunset.
Rule 21 Mast Head Light
White light // Forward Facing
Visible from right ahead to two points 225 degrees // Two Points 22.5
Side Lights
Visible through an arc of 112.5 degrees (10 Points) on each side of the bow.
Inland Only: Vessels under 20m may carry a combined sidelight.
Stern & Tow Lights
Both face aft, visible from 2 points (22.5 degrees abaft of beam
Both present an unbroken arc of 12 points (135 degrees)
Stern = White
Tow = Yellow
All Around LIght
Visible 32 points (365 degrees)
May be white, red, green, yellow and flashing blue.
Flashing lights can be all around lights
Rule 22 Submarines
Flashing amber beacon for submarines
Visibility of Lights
The larger the vessel, the greater range of visibility of lights.
Power Driven Vessel Greater than 50m
Must:
Masthead Light Forward
Second Masthead Light abaft (higher than Masthead Light)
Side Lights
Stern Light
Power Driven Vessel Less than 50m
Second Masthead Light is optional
Power Driven Vessel less than 12m
May use an all around light instead of the masthead light and stern light.
International Only Less than 7m Long and less than 7 knots
May use all around white light only.
Rule 24 Towing and Pushing Types
Towing Astern
Towing Alongside
Pushing Ahead
A power drive vessel (less than 50m in length) and length of tow IS LESS THAN 200m in length shall exhibit:
Two Masthead Lights in a vertical val line
Side Lights
Stern Light
Towing light in a vertical line above the stern light
A power driven vessel (less than 50m in length) and length of tow exceeds 200m in length shall exhibit:
Three Masthead Lights in a vertical ivcal line
Side lights
Stern Light
Towing light in a vertical line above the stern light
DIAMOND SHAPE on both the towing vessel and towed vessel
International Pushing
A power driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside, EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A COMPOSITE UNIT, shall exhibit:
Instead of the light prescribed in Rule 23 , two mast head lights in a vertical line.
Side lights
Stern Light
Inland Pushing
A power driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPHS B AND I OF THIS RULE, shall exhibit:
Instead of the light prescribed wither in Rule 23, two masthead lights in vertial line
Sidelights
Two towing lights in a vertical line
Inland Towing and Pushing require what special light
Special Flashing Light
What distinguishes a tow length greater than 200 meters?
Three Masthead Lights in a vertical line
A Diamond Shape where it can be seen
Rule 25 Sailing Vessels Underway
Sailing vessels show sidelights and a stern light.
Vessels less than 20m may combien all three.
Red Over Green
Sailing machine
Rule 26 Fishing Vessel Lights
Under power Red Over White fishing at Night, with side lights and stern light.
Stopped / Drifting shows just red over white
Trawling at night
Green over white
Trawlers over 50ft require a mast head light.
White over White = Shooting Nets
White over Red = Hauling Nets
Red over Red = Nets stuck on obstruction
Rule 27 Vessels Not Under Command
Red over Red Captain is dead
Restricted in Ability to Maneuver less 50m Making Way
Red over white over red
Mast Head Light
Side lights
Stern Lights
Restricted in Ability to Maneuver less 50m At Anchor
Red over White Over Read
All around light
Rule 28 Vessels Constrained by Draft
Three Reds in a Row = Little room below.
Day Signal = Cylinder (Can of draft beer)
Rule 29 Pilot Vessel
White over Red Pilot Ahead
Rule 30 Anchored Vessels
All around white lights, forward is higher.
By day one ball shape.
Rule 30 Vessel Aground
Shows two red lights, with anchor lights.
By day: Three Balls
Don’t confuse red lights with Vessel not under command. VNUC will never show anchor lights.
Rule 31 Sea plane
Exhibit lights as closely as possible
IE: Side lights and white light at fussil lodge
Rules 32 Sound
Whistle
Short Blast: 1 second
Prolonged: 4-6 seconds
Rule 33 International Sound Equipment
Vessel over 12m: Whistle
Vessel over 20m: Whistle & Bell
Vessel over 100m: Whistle, Bell, Gong
Rule 33 Inland Sound Equipment
Vessel over 12m: Whistle & Bell
Vessel over 100m: Whistle, Bell, Gong
Rule 33 International and Inland Sound Equipment
Ships less than 12m must have some way of making sound.
Rule 34 Maneuvering Signal
Internation one short blasts
-Turning to Starboard
International two short blasts
-Turning to Port
International three short blasts
-Operating astern propulsion
International Signal of Intent Overtaking another in a channel
Two prolonged and one short blast
-Pass on Starboard
Two prolonged and two short blast
-Pass on the other vessels Port
Agree: Sound prolonged… short… prolonged…. short (Consent Signal)
Disagree: Five short blasts (Danger Signal)
Danger Signal
5 short blasts
Rule 34 Inland
Power driven vessels that are insight or within a half a mile of one another MUST sound maneuvering signals.
One short blasts: I Intend to leave you on my port side.
Two short blasts: I intent to leave you on my starboard side.
Three short blasts: I am operating engines astern
Rule 35 Sound Signals in Restricted Viz
Power Driven Making Way
-Two prolonged blasts ever 2 min
Power Driven Not Making Way
- Two prolonged blasts ever 2 min
Lame Ducks (NUC/RAM/CBD/Sail/Fish/Towing)
- One prolonged followed by two short
Towed Vessel (Manned)
-One prolonged and three short immediately after the towing vessel sounds in Lame Duck signal
Additional signal for Pilot Vessel
-Four short blasts
Vessels at Anchor in Restricted Viz
Vessel at Anchor
- Ring bell rapidly every one minute
Vessel greater than 100m at Anchor
-Rapid bell at bow followed by gong astern every one minute
Optional Anchor Whistle
-one short one prolong one short
Vessel Aground
-Three bell taps, rapid ringing, followed by three bell taps.
Vessels less than 12m
-Make an efficient signal at least every two minutes.
Rule 36 Signal to Attract Attention
Light or Sound Signals can not be confused with any signal authorized in another Rule or an Aide to Navigation.
Avoid pointing searchlights in manner that could hinder another vessel’s look out.
Rule 37 Distress Signals
Red Star
Fog Horn
Flames on Vessel
Gun (1minute intervals)
Orange Background Black Ball and Square
SOS
Mayday
Red Flare Parachute
Dye in water
Code Flags (November Charlie)
Square Flag and Ball
Wave Arms up and down
Radio Telegraph Alarm
Radio Telephone Alarm
Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Smoke
Rule 38 Exemptions
COLREG exemptions for older vessels where keel was laid before Regulations came into force.
Lays out time limitations as to when the ship must comply with light installations.
