Situations

[Mantaforce]

Hi All,

Just thought I would make a thread for situations in ROR. My first question is that when you have a vessel Constrained by her Draught on your port side, do you take a series of compass bearings to ascertain if risk of collision exists or do you do your duty not to impede her safe passage and alter straight away.

I realise that when risk exists she is still obliged to act but whats confusing me is the initial action. I am told that 'not to impede safe passage' means that risk of collision never exists. Does this mean that you alter first, or would you take the initial compass bearings to see if risk exists and if it doesnt, give her room?

Sorry if thats a bit long winded but this is one thats been bothering me for a while.

[gadget123]

Hi All,

Just thought I would make a thread for situations in ROR. My first question is that when you have a vessel Constrained by her Draught on your port side, do you take a series of compass bearings to ascertain if risk of collision exists or do you do your duty not to impede her safe passage and alter straight away.

I realise that when risk exists she is still obliged to act but whats confusing me is the initial action. I am told that 'not to impede safe passage' means that risk of collision never exists. Does this mean that you alter first, or would you take the initial compass bearings to see if risk exists and if it doesnt, give her room?

Sorry if thats a bit long winded but this is one thats been bothering me for a while.

Not sure I understand the question but I'll have a go.


But you have to take the series of bearing to know if risk of collision exists, without that you wouldn't know whether you had to make an alteration not to impede her. In fact if you altered straight away without taking the bearing you might be altering into a collision situation when there was not one initially.

[EH75]

Yeah that's what I thought. You always need to ascertain if a risk of collision exists. If you are in any doubt then you act as if there is a risk and alter accordingly.

[Mantaforce]

I could have worded this question a lot better, sorry about that.

Ok, risk of collision exists and the CBD is on my port side. Under rule 8 I do not lose my obligation to not impede her safe passage. She also is obliged to follow the rules. So in this case, she becomes a give-way vessel. My confusion comes from the fact that I am still obliged to not impede her, so does this mean that I would have to alter too even though she has become the give-way vessel. For instance, a broad alteration to starboard.

[tlloyd1983]

This is one of those cases where the TCPA comes into it. If you have time, an early and bold alteration to port is recommended, pass astern. If TCPA doesn't allow, then go to starboard (or slow down, but bold actions which are readily apparent to the other vessel are preferred in close quarter situations). You are correct that you are the stand on. Rule 18 says that we only have to give way to NUC, RAM, Fishing and Sailing (except when in narrow channels and TSS's). BUT we should avoid impeding her. So early action is always the best.

[tlloyd1983]

Oh, and before you take any actions, as gadget123 said, always ascertain if a risk of collision exists.