RAM from port (oral exam tomorrow!)

[cameron]

Hi,

I am struggling with a particular IRPCS question, and any help would be much appreciated, (oral tomorrow!)

Vessels in sight of one another:

RAM approaching on port (I'm aboard PDV) as I'm the give way vessel, am I correct in thinking that I can alter to Port to pass clear astern of him?

for some reason, I am struggling with when it is okay to alter to port,

I believe that is okay, as long as the situation is NOT

Head on
Restricted Viz
and I'm NOT the stand on vessel

is this correct?

thank you

[gadget123]

Yes its fine to alter course to port in that situation.

[YoungMariner]

For vessels in sight of one another; of course you can, although the preferred action be to alter to starboard or reduce speed for the obvious reasons. Refer to rule 18, and note the exception for Narrow Channels, Traffic Seperation Schemes and Overtaking.

Good luck with your Masters.

[cameron]

Thank you both

[Steve]

I agree with the above.

The key one for not altering to port is Rule 17 c). i.e. Stand-on vessel should not normally alter course to port for a vessel crossing from port. There is an exception to this for a Masters exam (cadets, stop reading now!) - you are called to the bridge by the OOW and see a vessel very near on your port bow, crossing left to right. No time to slow down, if you go to starboard you get T-boned, the best option is an immediate bold alteration to port, praying that the other vessel doesn't suddenly alter to starboard.

Good luck!

[alistairuk]

Important: You are NOT the give way vessel - Don't make my mistake and say this because the examiner will jump on you (even though you meant that you were giving way as you weren't going to impede his passage) - cue mass quizzing on the contents of various rules - argh!

You are required to "keep out of the way" (Rule 18) - the other vessel remains the "Give way vessel" under rule 15.

Providing you take "early action" to allow sufficient sea room for the other vessel (Rule 8(f)(i)) you can alter course to port.

[cameron]

Great advice, thanks

[Steve]

Important: You are NOT the give way vessel - Don't make my mistake and say this because the examiner will jump on you (even though you meant that you were giving way as you weren't going to impede his passage) - cue mass quizzing on the contents of various rules - argh!

You are required to "keep out of the way" (Rule 18) - the other vessel remains the "Give way vessel" under rule 15.

Providing you take "early action" to allow sufficient sea room for the other vessel (Rule 8(f)(i)) you can alter course to port.

No, no, no, no, no...!

There is no "impeding of passage" involved when PDV meets RAM. PDV is required to "keep out of the way of" under Rule 18. RAM vessel is not a PDV under the meaning of Rule 15, Rule 15 simply does not apply. Nor does Rule 8(f).

If your examiner said any of that for a RAM crossing from port, he was waaay off base.

The only time "impeding of passage" comes into play in an 'open water' scenario (non-TSS or narrow channel) is with respect to CBD.

[YoungMariner]

Yes, some slight confusion in the wording there as mentioned by Steve; 'Keep out of the way of...' is correct.

'impeding the passage of.' should never have been mentioned in this particularly scenario.

[tlloyd1983]

I am also up for Orals shortly, and this point keeps coming up, I am aware that if a RAM is crossing from port, I can go to port and pass astern, however am I correct in assuming that if the vessel is CBD, then the correct action is reduce speed if TCPA allows?

[Steve]

however am I correct in assuming that if the vessel is CBD, then the correct action is reduce speed if TCPA allows?

Yes. Ref. Rules 8(f), 15 and 17(c).