MARINE GUIDANCE NOTE

MGN 152 (M+F)

1
Use of Not Under Command (NUC) Signals
Notice to Shipowners, Operators, Masters, Officers and Crew of Merchant Ships, Skippers of
Fishing Vessels, Yachts and all other sea-going craft
This note supersedes Marine Guidance Note MGN 25 (M+F)
Summary
Key Points
Inappropriate use of Not Under Command signals is prohibited.
Not Under Command Signals should only be used as defined in the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) 1972 as amended.
1. Seafarers are reminded that NUC signals
should only be used by vessels not under
command. As defined in Rule 3(f) of the
International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) 1972 (as amended)
a vessel not under command is unable to
manoeuvre in accordance with the Rules
through some exceptional circumstance and is
unable to keep out of the way of other vessels.
2. Unfortunately, there appears to be an
increasing use of NUC signals by vessels in
circumstances which cannot reasonably be
defined as exceptional. For example, vessels
have been reported using NUC signals while
drifting off ports and terminals awaiting
orders. In some cases, vessels erroneously or
falsely display NUC signals when their main
engines or ancillary machinery are shut down
for reasons other than breakdown or necessary
maintenance. Such vessels must adhere to their
collision avoidance responsibilities as power-
driven vessels underway (Rule 18 of the
COLREGS).
3. A vessel which is underway and stopped
(unless, of course, a vessel not under
command) must not use the NUC signal but
show the appropriate lights and shapes as
prescribed in Rules 23, 24, 25 and 26 of the
COLREGS and must take action to avoid
collision as required.
4. The COLREGS (as amended up to and
including November 1995) are set out in full in
Merchant Shipping Notice M.1642/COLREG 1.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Navigation Safety Branch
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
SOUTHAMPTON SO15 1EG
Tel: 023 8032 9341
Fax: 023 8032 9204
E-mail: Howard_wright@mcga.gov.uk
August 2000
[File ref: MNA 5/75/043]
2
An executive agency of the Department of the
Environment, Transport and the Regions