INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION 4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT LONDON SE1 7SR Telephone: 020 7735 7611 Fax: 020 7587

3210 Telex: 23588 IMOLDN G

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IMO SN/Circ.226 16 December 2002

Ref. T2/2.07

DANGERS OF CONFLICTING ACTIONS IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 The Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation, at its forty-sixth session (10 to 14 July 2000), noted reports of the relatively high frequency of conflicting actions resulting in collisions, especially in meeting and fine crossing situations. Reports of collision cases indicated that, at times, in headon or near head-on encounters rule 8(d) was applied in isolation of the other Steering and Sailing Rules, resulting in conflicting actions and collisions. It was reported that in some such cases, one vessel took avoiding action by turning to port and the other by turning to starboard. 2 At the twenty-second session of the Assembly (19 to 30 November 2001), certain amendments were adopted to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972. To avoid the application of rule 8 in isolation of the other Steering and Sailing Rules, rule 8(a) was amended to read as follows: Any action to avoid collision shall be taken in accordance with the rules of this Part and, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship. 3 The amendment will come into force on 29 November 2003.

4 The Maritime Safety Committee at its seventy-sixth session (2 to 13 December 2002) subsequently endorsed the aforementioned actions of the NAV Sub-Committee and approved this circular. 5 Member Governments are invited to bring this circular to the attention of shipmasters, navigating officers and nautical training establishments. __________

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