Division 7 Mission Job Aid: Make Way Education

Division 7 Mission Job Aid:

Make Way Education

17MAR2010 A

Relevance:

Public Affairs, Vessel Examination, Public Education, Marine Dealer Visitation,Operations (underway education). This document deals specifically with our education outreachefforts. Our efforts providing Make Way assistance while underway are outside the scope of thisaid.

Objective:

Educate boaters as to their obligations under the navigation rules, specifically Rule 9,to prevent loss of life, injury, property damage, damage to the environment, and impacts on themaritime transportation system.

Overview:

Our narrow fairways combined with the large volumes of commercial traffic andrecreational sail, power and paddle powered boating create a significant potential for collision,vessel damage, injury and death. We have had fatalities due to commercial vessels colliding withrecreational vessels in the past and we regularly see close calls. Even when collisions are avoidedthe maneuvers necessary can cause the commercial vessels to stand into danger with significantrisk of allision (a vessel hitting a fixed object) or collision (a vessel hitting another vessel) andresultant risk to life, commerce and the marine environment.The greatest concern is boaters anchored in the channel. Boaters underway, including fishermentrolling, have greater maneuverability and generally maintain better situational awareness, whichreduces the chance of adverse outcomes.As with all boating safety problems, speed, alcohol and inexperience can also play a significantrole.

Approach:

The challenge when communicating the Make Way message is balancing the safetyrisk and potential fines with a positive message that encourages boater responsibility and allowsour citizens to safely maximize their enjoyment of our beautiful Columbia and Willamette rivers.Each member will need to strike this balance for themselves as their experience, comfort level andthe particular situation dictate.Please do remember that most boaters, including anchored fishermen, are happy to comply withrequests when educated and most commercial operators do their very best to minimize thepotential for incidents. Please do not let the few non-cooperative people influence your approach toall boaters. As always, look to Alexander Hamilton’s guidance to the first Cutter Captains in our service as you represent the Coast Guard:

[A]lways keep in mind that [your] countrymen are free men and, as such, are impatient of everything that bears the least mark of a domineering spirit...[Refrain, therefore,] with the most guarded circumspection, from whatever has the sem- blance of haughtiness, rudeness, or insult...[E]ndeavor to overcome difficulties, if any are experienced, by a cool and temperate perseverance in [your] duty—by address and mod- eration, rather than vehemence and violence.

Division 7 Mission Job Aid: Make Way Education

Messages to use:

The following points are made in the OSMB/USCG/Columbia River TowboatAssociation flyer we currently distribute.

We are working on (as of March 2010) an updated set of messages.

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Large vessels must navigate within the channel.

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By law, small vessels must give ships and barges room to safely pass. Maximum fine:$5,000

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Keep a good lookout at all times. If you have to move take your anchor with you. They canfoul propellers.

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Tow operators may have difficulty seeing over barges. Keep well clear.

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Five or more short blasts on the large vessel’s horn is the danger signal. Boats in the waymust move immediately.

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Avoid joining hog lines that protrude out into the channel.

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Large vessels need room to maneuver. Keep well clear when they are turning.

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Contact large vessels on marine VHF radio channels 13 and 16.Please also consider the following as time and conditions allow:

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The rule covers the channel or fairway – commercial vessels may be operating out of thedredged channel and they are still “stand-on” and recreational boaters must make way.

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Avoid anchoring in the channel

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Know where the channel is in the areas you boat

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The five or more short blasts is the danger signal and is sounded when danger is imminent,it is not simply an indicator to move. Recreational boaters should have already taken actionto meet the requirements of Rule 9. If everyone is playing by the rules there is no need for the danger signal.

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The Federal civil fine can be up to $5,000. Negligence and gross negligence can result incriminal prosecution. Violations of the Navigation Rules can also result in liability for anynegative outcomes of your failure to follow the rules.

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There are State fines as well

Issues you may encounter:

There are a number of common questions and responses you mayencounter. [Please feel free to contribute additional ones]

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Response:

They’ve always gone around me before.

Answer:

Different ships andtugs/barges have different maneuvering characteristics based on load and the conditions(wind, current, visibility) – just because you’ve been “safe” in a particular location beforedoes not mean you are safe today.

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Question

: Am I safe at X or am I safe here.

Answer:

You must use your own judgment –we strongly encourage people to err on the side of caution.

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Response:

I’ve fished here for X years, they can just deal with it!

Answer:

You areresponsible to follow the rules.

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Response:

The commercial guys just run through us (or some other comment on thecommercial operators behavior).

Answer:

Our experience is that they try very hard to sharethe waterway – they usually need to maintain way to keep their vessels under control. Theymay need to be in a particular part of the river to set up for a series of maneuvers miles upor down the river. Many commercial captains are recreational boaters as well.

Education Materials:

There are no nationally provided materials (via ANSC) specific to Rule 9, allcurrent materials have been provided locally.

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Make Way flyers: We have limited stocks of Make Way flyers currently available and areworking to get more.

Division 7 Mission Job Aid: Make Way Education

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Printable flyers: We have a black and white version of the flyer suitable for printing andcopying that can emailed – please request this from Daren Lewis: veryuseful@gmail.com

Resource: Rule 9Rule 9

of the Navigation Rules is the key rule for our program and specifies the responsibilities of the target recreational boaters. The most relevant sections are shown in bold.

RULE 9NARROW CHANNELS

(a)

(i)

[Inld] A vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway shall keepas near to the outer limit of the channel or fairway which lies on her starboard side as is safeand practicable.

(ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(i) and Rule 14(a), a power-driven vessel operating in narrow channels or fairways on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary,and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over anupbound vessel, shall propose the manner and place of passage, and shall initiate themaneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i), as appropriate. The vessel proceeding upbound against the current shall hold as necessary to permit safe passing.

[Inld](b)

A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede thepassage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

(c)

A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any other vesselnavigating within a narrow channel or fairway.

(d) A vessel shall not cross a narrow passage or fairway if such crossing impedes thepassage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within such channel or fairway. The latter vessel may use the sound signal prescribed in Rule 34(d) if in doubt as to the intention of thecrossing vessel.(e)(i) [INLAND RULES] In a narrow channel or fairway when overtaking, the power-drivenvessel intending to overtake another power-driven vessel shall indicate her intention bysounding the appropriate signal prescribed in Rule 34(c) and take steps to permit safepassing. The power-driven vessel being overtaken, if in agreement, shall sound thesame signal and may, if specifically agreed to take steps to permit safe passing. If indoubt, she shall sound the danger signal prescribed in Rule 34(d).(ii) This rule does not relieve the overtaking vessel of her obligation under Rule 13.(f)

A vessel nearing a bend or an area of a narrow channel or fairway where other vessels may be obscured by an intervening obstruction shall navigate with particular alertness and caution and shall sound the appropriate signal prescribed in Rule 34(e).

(g)

Any vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid anchoring in anarrow channel.

Resource: Rule 34Rule 34

describes the danger signalRule 34 (d) When vessels in sight of one another are approaching each other and from anycause either vessel fails to understand the intentions or actions of the other, or is in doubtwhether sufficient action is being taken by the other to avoid collision, the vessel in doubt shallimmediately indicate such doubt by giving at least five short and rapid blasts on the whistle.