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Part A - General

Rule 1

Application
(a)These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas
and in all waters connected therewith navigable by
seagoing vessels.

(b)Nothing in these Rules shall interfere in the operation of

special rules made by an appropriate authority for
roadsteads, harbors, 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.

(c) 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 or shapes
or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding
under convoy, or with respect to additional station or signal
lights for fishing vessels fishing as a fleet. These additional
station or signal lights 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.
(d) Tra ic separation schemes may be adopted by the
Organization or the purpose o these ules.

(e) Whenever the overnment concerned shall have

determined that a vessel o special construction or purpose
cannot comply ully ith the provisions o any o these
ules ith respect to number, position, range or arc o
visibility o lights or shapes, as ell as to the disposition
and characteristics o sound-signalling appliances, such
vessel shall comply ith such other provisions in regard to
number, position, range or arc o visibility o lights or
shapes, as ell as to the disposition and characteristics o
sound-signalling appliances, as her overnment shall have
determined to be the closest possible compliance ith these
ules in respect to that vessel.
È
TIO  O 
O

(a) You are on a ro ing boat in the Firth o Clyde, are
you bound by the ules?

Yes, you are a vessel on navigable aters connected to

the high seas.

(b) Who may make pecial ules as regards to

navigation?
ppropriate uthorities and overnments

(c) You see a Fishing Fleet displaying lights not in

these ules, is this allo ed?
Yes, provided they cannot be mistaken or lights
authorised in these ules
 Rule 2

Responsibility

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or

the owner, master, 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.

(b) 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 from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate
danger.
 Vule 3

eneral De initions
For the purpose o these Vules, except here the context
other ise requires

(a) The ord "vessel" includes every description o

atercra t, including non-displacement cra t and seaplanes,
used or capable o being used as a means o transportation
on ater.

(b) The term "po er driven vessel" means any vessel

propelled by machinery.

(c) The term "sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail
provided that propelling machinery, i itted, is not being
used.

(d) The term "vessel engaged in ishing" means any vessel

ishing ith nets, lines, tra ls, or other ishing apparatus
hich restrict maneuverability, but does not include a
vessel ishing ith trolling lines or other ishing apparatus
hich do not restrict manageability.

(e) The term "seaplane" includes any aircra t designed to

maneuver on the ater.

( ) The term "vessel not under command" means a vessel

hich through some exceptional circumstance is unable to
maneuver as required by these Vules and is there ore
unable to keep out o the ay o another vessel.
The term "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" shall
include but not be limited to
ď (i) A vessel engaged in laying, servicing, or picking up
a navigational mark, submarine cable or pipeline;
ď (ii) A vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or
underwater operations;
ď (iii) A vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring
persons, provisions or cargo while underway;
ď (iv) A vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of
aircraft;
ď (v) A vessel engaged in mineclearance operations;
ď (vi) 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.

(h) The term "vessel constrained by her draft" means a

power-driven vessel which because of her draft 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.

(i) The word "underway" means a vessel is not at anchor, or

made fast to the shore, or aground.

(j) The words "length" and "breadth" of a vessel mean her

length overall and greatest breadth.

(k) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another

only when one can be observed visually from the other.
(l) The term "restricted visibility" means any condition in
hich visibility is restricted by og, mist, alling sno ,
heavy rainstorms, sandstorms and any other similar causes.
È
TIO  O V 
 2 + 3

(a)I you have a collision because you obeyed the

Vules, can you be blamed?
Yes, you should take into account any special
circumstances and act accordingly.

(b)You are in a boat ishing ith a hand line, are you a

³vessel engaged in ishing´?
o, your manoeuvrability is not restricted

(c) What does the term ³not under command´ mean?

vessel hich through some exceptional
circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by
these Vules, and is unable to keep out o the ay o
another vessel
(d) nder hat circumstances may a vessel be
considered ³restricted in its ability to manoeuvre´
I rom the ³nature o its ork´ it is unable to
manoeuvre as required by these Vules and there ore
unable to keep out o the ay o another vessel.
(e) What does the term ³under ay´mean?
vessel not at anchor, made ast to the shore, or
aground.
( ) De ine the term ³constrained by her dra t´
po er driven vessel, hich because o her dra t in
relation to the available depth and idth o navigable
ater, is severely restricted in her ability to deviate
rom the course she is ollo ing.
(g) Your vessels rudder alls o and the engines are
ammed ull ahead, is this sort o occurrence covered
in the Vules?
Yes, you ould be ³not under command´ because o
some exceptional circumstance.
(h) You are on a homemade ra t, on och Fyne are
you required to obey the Vules?

Yes, you are a ³vessel´ as described by the Vules,ie a

atercra t used or transportation on ater, on
navigable ater connected to the high seas.
art B - teering and ailing Vules
ection I - Conduct o essels in any Condition o
isibility

Vule 4

pplication
Vules in this section apply to any condition o visibility.

Vule 5

ook-out

very vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out
by sight as ell as by hearing as ell as by all available
means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and
conditions so as to make a ull appraisal o the situation and
o the risk o collision.