Table of Contents
Rule 8- Action to Avoid Collision
- If you are going to make an alteration off- course, make sure its an early and bold alteration as long as you have plenty of sea room
- Every alteration must be big enough so the other vessel can see it on his radar
- A series of small alterations should be avoided
- When making an alteration off-course, make sure you don’t place your vessel into a close quarter situation/ risk of collision with another vessel
When taking action to avoid a collision you can do one of 4 things
- Make an early and bold alteration of course
- slow your vessel down
- stop your vessel
- come astern with your vessel
If you are ever in doubt your best thing to do is stop your vessel until the risk of collision is passed (also gives you more thinking time as to what you can do)
After making an alteration off-course, take more bearings to make sure the risk of collision/close quarter situation is past
If in a collision course
If you’re the stand-on vessel you may alter course as long as you are not in a close-quarters situation, but if in a close-quarters situation you shall alter the course.
(Never get into a close-quarter situation if you can help it)
Rule of thumb
- From 8 to 12 miles – this is your plotting distance to find out if the risk of collision/ close-quarters situation exists
- From 4 to 8 miles – this is your/other vessels action area
- below 4 miles – close quarters situation (out in the open sea, you should have no vessel within 4 miles)
What you have to do in any situation:
- Take a series of the compass, radar, and visual bearing to see if a “Risk of Collision/close-quarters situation exists”
- Figure out who the giveway/stand-on vessel is.
- If you are the stand-on vessel then, stand-on with caution, maintaining your course and speed, keep taking bearings to make sure the giveway vessel givesway
- If your the giveway vessel then, alter course towards the giveway vessel, give him plenty sea-room, if not a lot of sea-room stop your vessel and let him pass.
- If the giveway vessel is standing on then sound 5 or more short and rapid blasts on the ships whistle or flash your masthead light rapidly 5 or more times. If you get no response then, make an bold alteration away from this vessel (he could be a pirate vessel)
Close Quarters situation
- This should not have happened if you had been watching and keeping a safe watch
- If you get into a close-quarter situation with another vessel and you are the stand-on vessel, you have to get away from him at all costs
- Make a very large alteration away from the other vessel as long as your not putting yourself into a close quarter situation with another vessel (maybe another vessel overtaking you at the same time)
- The way I see it Rule 8 has to be the most important Rule of the Road, by Using it and taking action to avoid collision you can save life, this Rule is vital to learn, using Rule 8 “Action to Avoid collision” means you can break any Rule of the Road to avoid collision, Break a rule to save a life (You and your Crews as well as the other vessels crew)
- Get hold of this vessel on the VHF or take the vessels name and number and port and report him to the coastguard
- you can also call him up on VHF 16 and say According to the Rules and regulations regarding collision
- avoidance it states that you’re the giveway vessel I will give you one minute to alter course
- Then if he does not alter course
- Get in contact with the MCA and report him Fill in an IRF form and send it to the MAIB
- He will then be brought up in front of an MCA Captain and be severely reprimanded
- They might even take his Certificate of Competency away from him
- It’s your responsibility to make sure you get your crew home safely
Rule 9- Narrow Channels Situations
Rule 10- Traffic Separation Schemes (Alteration Tips)
Situations with you crossing a lane
You’re crossing in a PDV under 20 meters
You are crossing a lane in a PDV under 20 meters
You are Crossing a lane in a Sailing Vessel
You are crossing a lane in a Fishing Vessel
Now you’re in a lane
Que: You’re in a traffic lane in a Power-driven Vessel (Any Size)
Que: You’re in the Traffic Lane in a Sailing vessel
Ans: Stand on to the 3 vessels that are not allowed to impede you and a power-driven vessel on both sides
the 3 vessels that are not allowed to impede you are
(1) A fishing vessel
(2) A sailing vessel
(3) A power-driven vessel under 20 meters in length
Que: You’re in the Traffic Lane in a fishing vessel.
Ans: Stand-on to the 3 vessels that are not allowed to impede you and a power-driven vessel on both sides.
The 3 vessels that are not allowed to impede you are
(1) A fishing vessel
(2) A sailing vessel
(3) A power-driven vessel under 20 meters in length
In Restricted Visibility
Que: You are in the In-shore Zone about to cross a Traffic Lane in Restricted Visibility (Target in lane & Bearings are steady)
Ans: Make an early and bold alteration to the starboard using Rule 19d part 1. The other vessel should do the same
Que: You are in the Separation Zone about to cross a Traffic lane in Restricted Visibility (Target in lane & Bearings are steady)
Ans: Make an early and bold alteration to the starboard using Rule 19d part 1. The other vessel should do the same
Que: You’re in the Traffic Lane in restricted visibility and there are targets on your port and starboard bow (bearing steady on both targets)
Ans: Make an early and bold alteration to the starboard using Rule 19d part 1 and the other vessel should do the same
Unusual Circumstances
Que: You’re in the Traffic Lane in a fishing vessel about to be overtaken by a supertanker, what will you do?
Ans: Stand on with caution maintaining your course and speed. Any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken
Que: You’re in a traffic lane and in a head-on situation with another vessel who’s in the lane coming the wrong way, what are you going to do?
Ans: Sound One short blast and make a bold alteration to starboard and get away from this vessel
Remember to report this vessel to the port authorities who should be tracking both your vessel and the other vessel, also make an entry into your official logbook and fill out an I.R.F. (Incident Report Form) and send this to the M.A.I.B.
Traffic Separation Scheme Alteration Tips
If you’re in a POWER-DRIVEN VESSEL OVER 20 METRES IN LENGTH crossing a scheme
Then Normal Rules apply
Figure out who is most hampered, and then who is the give-way vessel
If you’re in a Fishing vessel, Sailing Vessel, or a power-driven vessel under 20 meters in length crossing a Scheme
Then You do not impede any vessel using a lane
If you’re in a power-driven vessel (Any Size), a fishing vessel, or a sailing vessel in a lane
Then Normal rules apply
Watch for the 3 VESSELS THAT DON’T IMPEDE YOU IN A LANE
If you’re in a FISHING VESSEL in a lane Then Normal rules apply
Watch for the 3 VESSELS THAT DON’T IMPEDE YOU IN A LANE