COLREGS Questions

[Ben44]

Hi,

COLREGS... just a few general questions as it would be useful to hear your thoughts on some of these scenarios if you have a free moment (risk of collision always exists). Sorry for all the questions - but hopefully the answers will be useful to other candidates this year and in future years.

1. What is the difference between passage and safe passage?

2. In restricted vis (risk of collision exists). You detect another v/l directly astern of you. Action? Theoretically you could go to port/starboard? If he's overtaking he is more likely (though not necessarily) going to alter to starboard... I presume then you could argue for an alteration of course to port?

3. You are a PDV overtaking another v/l on her starboard quarter... you don't know the exact angle. You could for example be heading N and her heading 050. Obligation is to keep clear under Rule 13... so alter course to starboard? Could you argue for an alteration to port?

4. You are on a PDV... another PDV (or [ii] a F/V) coming up your stern at an angle of exactly 22.5 deg (or else [ii] at only 15 deg abaft your beam). He's taking no action. Your actions? Call the Master, alter away from target etc?

5. On a PDV, CBD v/l crossing from port or starboard (doesn't matter). Your obligations and actions? So determine if risk of collision exists etc (brg steady, range closing), avoid impeding safe passage of CBD. Alter to port/starboard, or else slow down?

[alistairuk]

In my opinion / my actions;

2. In restricted vis (risk of collision exists). You detect another v/l directly astern of you. Action? Theoretically you could go to port/starboard? If he's overtaking he is more likely (though not necessarily) going to alter to starboard... I presume then you could argue for an alteration of course to port?

Overtaking is defined in Part B, Section II therefore does not apply in restricted visibility (although the word "overtaking" is used in Rule 19, it is not defined and is simply taken as a vessel which will pass another vessel). Rule 19 is written in such a way that you should always be moving away from the other vessel - if it is directly astern then yes you could alter either to port or starboard, I would say if the other vessel has done nothing, I would go to port sufficiently to allow her to pass, as the other vessel should avoid an alteration to port for a vessel forward of the beam (except if she is "overtaking" her), so she is more likely to go to starboard.

3. You are a PDV overtaking another v/l on her starboard quarter... you don't know the exact angle. You could for example be heading N and her heading 050. Obligation is to keep clear under Rule 13... so alter course to starboard? Could you argue for an alteration to port?

You are overtaking her if you are overtaking her (if you are not sure then you have to assume its the case and keep out her way) - although if she's doing 050 and your doing 000, she is crossing from port. If you are overtaking her, you can choose to go either way - I would say if you are already on her starboard quarter, unless there is some other reason (e.g.: you want to turn left up ahead / shallow water / other traffic) then your as well overtaking her on the starboard side as you already are on her starboard side.

4. You are on a PDV... another PDV (or [ii] a F/V) coming up your stern at an angle of exactly 22.5 deg (or else [ii] at only 15 deg abaft your beam). He's taking no action. Your actions? Call the Master, alter away from target etc?

Yes.

5. On a PDV, CBD v/l crossing from port or starboard (doesn't matter). Your obligations and actions? So determine if risk of collision exists etc (brg steady, range closing), avoid impeding safe passage of CBD. Alter to port/starboard, or else slow down?

Be careful; "You should avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draught if the circumstances of the case allow" (I can't remember exactly what it says but thats the basic meaning).

You can go either way (although whether its crossing from port / starboard does make a difference), obviously it is better to make a broad alteration early so that the CBD vessel see's you are taking action to avoid her - in which case I would say go astern of her (if you can, otherwise going ahead of her is acceptable). However if its a late decision, she is obliged to keep out your way if she is crossing from port, so if you are deciding to give way to her, it would be better to goto starboard incase she takes action to avoid you.

It makes a difference because;
If she is crossing you from the port side, then she is the give way vessel under rule 15 - however you should not obstruct her safe passage (that DOES NOT make you the give way vessel).

If she is crossing you from the starboard side, then you have to give way to her anyway as a "crossing vessel".

Reduction in speed is valid, however is not immediately noticeable to the other vessel.

[Ben44]

Hello

Very many thanks again really useful, thanks mate

Another few thoughts.

1. On a PDV... have a v/l CBD overtaking. Under Rule 13 he is still obliged to keep out of my way since Rule 13 applies to "any vessel" so as to, in effect, superseed Rule 18 in this scenario?

2. I'm on a V/l CBD... any v/l (other than NUC/RAM) crossing from starboard. Actions? Maintain my course and speed because he is obliged to avoid impeding my safe passage, although I remain the give-way vessel (is that a safe thing to say?)... still no action by crossing v/l? I presume my options now are to either alter to starboard myself (if searoom exists) or just slow down - would I still first sound 5 short/call captain etc if there was no action by crossing vessel even if I'm the give way vessel anyway? Also what if I can't go to stb - just slow down?

3. You are on the v/l being overtaken by any vessel. What are your obligations to that v/l if he doesn't take any action? (5 short, call Master)... but which way would you most likely go and under which rule as the v/l to be overtaken? So for example, if he's overtaking you on your port quarter, what are your obligations to him - e.g. if he (for whatever reason) thinks its a crossing situation, would you then be obliged to do a huge alteration to starboard and go round his stern - I'm a little puzzled over the precise responsibilities between 2 vessels in an overtaking situation - particularly from that of the vessel being overtaken if no action is being taken by the overtaking vessel?


Just as an aside if anybody knows...

What is the difference between anchor cable on deck / in the water / in the pipe? When anchoring on your ships, do you measure the number of shackles in the water from just above the water (i've also seen it measured from the spurling pipe)?

thanks again guys, hope this is useful to others too

[CharlieDelta]

What is the difference between anchor cable on deck / in the water / in the pipe? When anchoring on your ships, do you measure the number of shackles in the water from just above the water (i've also seen it measured from the spurling pipe)?

For us, on deck is at the top of the hawsepipe and in the water is on the waterline.

[Ben44]

Cheers mate, very useful. So if (for example) your ship had 11 shackles on an anchor... 6 shackles on deck means 6 shackles from the hawsepipe to bitter end I presume? (and therefore 5 shackles leading from the hawsepipe to actual anchor)... or is it the other way round? You think you know and then confuse urself, u will see what a mean when you go up for orals heh! Thanks again mate.

[CharlieDelta]

Six on deck would be six from the top of the hawsepipe to the working end i.e. the anchor. Six in the water would be six from the waterline to the anchor. Just a matter of counting the painted links on the cable (if you can still see them!).

Now I don't claim to be an expert - only one ship so far, so perhaps we do things differently. Maybe have a look at Seamanship Techniques?

I'm blissfully refusing to acknowledge that my orals are anything but years away! :-D

[alistairuk]

It's to do with the location of the joining shackle - it's normally painted red and will have the appropriate number of White shackles on either side of it....If it's at the waterline it's "in the water" if it's in the pipe it's "in the pipe" and if it's between the windlass and the pipe it's "on deck"

[alistairuk]

The number one rule is DO NOT HIT ANYTHING.

Also - you seem to have fallen into the trap of "I must go to starboard" - the ONLY rule that REQUIRES you alter course to starboard is HEAD ON SITUATION.

3. You would go whatever way is safest.

Im on my iPad lying beside a pool a moment, but I'll answer your questions in more detail later.