Rule of the Road

Light
Identificaton
 The International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea
 AIMS of this lesson:-
 Continue to develop and consolidate on
previous lessons on the IRPCS
The objectives being:-
Recognise various ship types by the navigation
lights displayed
Differentiate between the sound & day signals of
ship types
Identify the aspect of ship types from the lights
displayed
 Type ?
 Sailing vessel
Right ahead, steady bearing. What action?
 Length ?
 Less than 20mtr….why?

 Aspect ?
 End on….why?
 One short blast, alter to starboard

 Fog signal ?
 One long & two short blasts at intervals not exceeding 2mins.

 Day Signal:
 None

 Underway, making way?

 Underway, possibly making way
 Type
 Vessel engaged in trawling

 Length ?
 < or = or > 50mtr ….why?

 Aspect ?
 End On

 Fog Signal ?
 One long followed by two short blasts at
intervals not exceeding 2 minutes

 Day Signal ?
 Two cones apexes together in a
vertical line

 Underway/Making way ?
 Underway AND making way…how do you know it is making way?
 Four points on port bow, steady bearing
 One short blast, broad alteration to starboard
until well past & clear. Could you go to port?

 Type ?
 Power Driven Vessel
engaged in towing,
RAM

 Length ?

 Towing vessel probably 50mtr or more but maybe less

 Length of tow greater than 200mtr
 Aspect ?
 Starboard side
open
 Fog signal ?
 One long & two short blasts at intervals not exceeding two minutes
 Day signal ?
 Black ball, diamond, ball shapes vertically, where it can best be
seen. way / making way ?
 Under  Underway possibly making way.
 Type ?
 Power Driven Vessel pushing another vessel ahead (not a composite unit)
 Length ?  Less than 50mtr….why?
 Aspect ?  Portside open
 Fog  One long & two short blasts
signal ? at intervals not exceeding 2mins.

 Day signal ?  None

 Underway/Making way ?  Underway, possibly making way

 Type ?
 Sailing vessel
 Showing additional
masthealights
 See Rule 25 (c)

 Aspect ?
 Port side open

 Fog Signal ?
 One long & two short at intervals
not exceeding two minutes

 Day Signal ?
 None….why?

 Underway/making way ?
 Underway, but no indication if
making way
 Type ?
 Vessel aground

 Length ?
 Probably 50mtr or more but may be less

 Aspect ?
 Port side open

 Fog signal ?
 On the bell,3 separate & distinct strokes followed by rapid ringing for 5 secs followed by 3 separate &
distinct strokes. If length = or > 100mtr rapid sounding of the gong for 5 secs in the aft part of the vesel.
Seen right ahead, what
Intervals not exceeding 1 min. She may also sound an appropriate whistle signal.
action?  Take all way off the vessl, call Master,
 Day signal ? confirm position, sound round,
 Day signal: 3 black balls in a vertical line proceed with caution etc.
 Type ?  Vessel engaged in towing

 Length ?  Length of tow < 200mtr & towing v/l < = or > 50mtr

 Aspect ?
 Starboard side open

 Day Signal ?
 None as tow is < 200mtr

 Fog Signal ?
:
 If first or last tow manned:

 Under way / making way ?

 Underway, but no indication if
making way

 Collision situation, 2 points on port bow ?

 None: You are the stand-on vessel as no indication of

RAM. Check Rule 18 if unsure!
 Type ?
 Vessel engaged in trawling,
shooting nets

 Length ?
 Less than 50mtr……why?

 Aspect ?
 Port side open

 Fog signal ?
 One long & two short blasts at intervals
not exceeding 2 minutes

One point on the port bow, steady

 Day Signal ? bearing, what action and why?
 Two cones, apexes together in a vertical line PLUS!
Flag ZULU
She is shooting nets and is
 Under way / making way ? obviously drifting onto you.
 Under way AND making way……why? 1 short blast and alter to starboard.
Preferably a broad alteration.
 Type ?
 Vessel engaged in towing; RAM

 Length ?
 Length of tow < 200mtr & towing v/l < or = or > 50mtr

 Aspect ?
 End On

 Day Signal ?
 Ball, diamond, ball in a vertical line, where best seen

 Fog Signal ?

 Fog Signal :
 If first or last tow manned:

 Underway / making way ?

 Underway, but no indication if
making way
 Seen one point to port, steady bearing  1 short blast & alter to
starboard…..why?
 Type ?
 Vessel engaged in trawling
 Nets fast on an obstruction

 Length ?
 Less than 50mtr

 Aspect ?
 Unknown

 Fog Signal ?
 Fog Signal :
At intervals not exceeding 2 miutes

 Day
signal ?
 Two black cones apexes together in a vertical line

 Underway/making way ?  Underway but not making way

 Type ?
 Power Driven Vessel

 Length ?
 Less than 50mtr

 Aspect ?
 End On

 Fog signal ?
 Fog Signal: Making way , when stopped at intervals of not
more than 2 mins.

 Day signal ?
 None
 Under way / making way ?
 Underway & possibly making way.

 Seen right ahead, what action ?  One short blast & alter to starboard
 Two point on the starboard bow, steady bearing

 One short blast & alter to starboard

 Type ?
 PDV constrained by her draft

 Length ?
 Unknown, probably 50mtr or more but could be less

 Aspect ?
 Port side open

 Fog signal ?
 One long followed by two short blasts at intervals not exceeding 2mins

 Day signal ?
 Black cylinder
 Four points on port bow, steady bearing
 One short blast, broad alteration to starboard
until well past & clear. Could you go to port?

 Type ?
 Power Driven Vessel
engaged in towing,
RAM

 Length ?
 Length of tow > 200mtr

 Aspect ?
 Starboard side
open
 Fog signal ?
 One long & two short blasts at intervals not exceeding two minutes
 Day signal ?
 Black ball, diamond, ball shapes vertically, where it can best be
seen.
 Under way / making way ?  Underway possibly making way.
 Type ?  Seen 2 Points on port bow

 Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling

 Length ?
 Unknown…why?

 Aspect?
 Port side open

 Fog signal ?
 One long & two short blasts at intervals not
exceeding 2 mins

 Day signal ?
 Two cones apexes together in a vertical line
 No action
required….why?
 Underway, making way ?
 Underway AND making way….why?
 Type ?  Steady bearing, what
 Power Driven Vessel engaged in towing action?

 Length ?
 No indicaton of length
 Alter course as necessary
 Aspect ? and keep clear until well past
 Seen from astern & clear

 Fog signal ?
 One long & two short blasts at intervals not exceeding two minutes

 Day signal?
 Day Signal: When the length of tow > 200mtr, a
diamond shape where it can best be seen.

 Under way / making way ?

 Underway, possibly making way.
 Seen 3 points to starboard, steady bearing

 One shot blast, alter to starboard and pass

round her stern

 Type ?
 Power Driven Vessel

 Length ?
 Probably 50mtr or more but could be less

 Aspect
?Port side open

 Fog signal ?
 Fog Signal: Making way , when stopped at intervals of
not more than 2 mins.

 Day signal ?
 None

 Under way / making way?

 Underway, possibly making way.
 Type ? Seen one point to
starboard, steady
 Vessel engaged in
bearing
mine clearance

 Length ?
 Less than 50mtr

 Aspect ?

 End on

 Fog signal ?
 Fog Signal: One long followed by two short blasts at
intervals not exceeding 2mins
 Day signal ?
 Day Signal: three ball in place of the three all-round green lights
 One short blast alter to starboard, passing clear by at
 Under way / making way ? least 1000mtr
 Underway,
possibly making
 Type ?
Seen right ahead,
 Vessel engaged in trawling
steady bearing

 Length ?
 Less than 50mtr…..why?

 Aspect ?
 Seen from astern

 Fog signal ?
 Fog Signal: One long & two short blasts at intervals not exceeding 2mins

 Day signal ?
 Day Signal: Two cones apexes together in a vertical
 Onelineshort blast & alter to
starboard, keeping well
 Under way / making way ? clear
 Underway & making way…..why?
 Type ?  Seen two points to
port, steady bearing
 Vessel engaged in dredging

 Length ?
 No indication of length

 Aspect ?
 No indication of aspect

 Fog signal ?
 Fog Signal :
At intervals not more than 2mins

 Day signal ?
 Day signal: Ball, diamond ball; two balls
in place of the two red lights / two  One short blast, alter to
diamonds in place of the green lights. starboard…..why?

 Under way / making way ?

 Underway but NOT making way….why?
 Type ?
 Possible distribution of seaplane lights
 Length ?
 Two points to port, what action ?
 Less than 50 mtr
 Take a series of bearings, establish
 Aspect ? if risk of collision exists
 End On
 Risk exists, what
 Day signal ? action and why?
 None

 Fog signal ?
 Fog signal: same as PDV

 Under way / making way ?

 Underway, but no indication if
making way
  6 points on starboard bow, steady bearing, what action ?
 Type ?
 Non displacement craft (hovercraft)
operating in non dispalcement
mode
 Length ?
 Probably 50mtr or ore but could
be less 120

 Aspect ?
 Port side open

 Day signal ?
 None

 Fog signal ?
 Same as PDV
One short blast, broad alteration
 Under way / making way ? to starboard and pass round her
 Underway, but no indication if stern
making way
  Seen 2 Points on port bow, steady bearing

 Type ?
 One short blast & alter
 Vessel engaged in trawling
to starboard.
 Length ?  Could you alter to port?
 Probably 50mtr or
more but may be less
 Aspect ?
 Starboard side open

 Fog signal ?
 One long and two short blasts at
intervals not more than 2 mins

 Day signal ?
 Two cones apexes together in a
vertical line
 Under way / making way ?
 Underway AND making way
 Type ?
 Pilot vessel at anchor

 Length ?
 Less than
50mtr
 Fog signal ?
 Same as PDV & may sound identity signal of 4 short blasts

 Day signal ?
 Day Signal: black ball in place of the all round anchor light.
 Five points on starboard bow, steady bearing

 Type ?
 Power Driven Vessel pushing another vessel ahead (not a composite unit)
 Length ?
 One short blast & broad alteration
 Probably 50mtr or moretobut may be and
starboard less pass astern.
 Aspect ?
 Portside open  Day signal ?
 None
 Fog signal ?
 Fog Signal: One long & two  Under way / making way ?
short blasts at intervals not  Underway, possibly making way
exceeding 2mins.
 Type ?
 Vessel engaged in fishing  Three points on the
other than trawling port bow, steady
 Gear extending more than 150 bearing
mtr
horizontally in direction of white light

 Length ?
 No indication, probably
less than 50mtr

 Aspect ?
 Port side open

 Fog signal ?
 One long followed by two short blasts
at intervals not exceeding 2mins
 One short blast and alter to
 Day signal ? starboard.
 Two cones apexes together in avertical
Could line
you and
alteratoseparate
port ? cone
apex upward in place of the single allround white light.

 Underway / making way ?  Underway AND making way

  Two points on starboard bow, steady bearing
 Type ?
 Sailing vessel
 Length ?
 No indication

 Aspect ?
 Starboard side open

 Fog signal ?
 One long followed by two short
blasts at intervals not exceeding
2mins
 One short blast alter to starboard, if insufficient sea
 Day signal ? room then slow down or two short blasts & a round turn
 None to port

 Under way / making way ?

 Underway, possibly making way
 Two points on the port bow, steady bearing
 Type ?
 Vessel Not Under Command
NUC

 Length ?
 No indication

 Aspect ?
 One short blast, broad alteration to
 Port side open
starboard until well past & clear
 Fog signal ?  Could you alter to port ?
 One long followed by two short blasts
at intervals not exceeding 2mins

 Day signal ?
 Two balls in a vertical line in place of the
two allround red lights

 Under way / making way ?

 Underway AND making way
 Type ? Two points on the port bow, steady bearing
 Vessel Restricted in
ability to manoeuvre,
RAM
 Length ?
 Probably 50mtr or more but
may be less
 Type ?
 Aspect: starboard side open

 Fog signal ?
 One long followed by two short blasts
at intervals not exceeding 2mins

 Day signal ?  One short blast, broad alteration to

 Ball, diamond, ball in place of the red, starboard until well past & clear
white, red all round lights  Could you alter to port ?

 Under way / making way?

 Underway AND making way
 Two points on the starboard bow, steady bearing

 PDV towing partly

submerged vessel or object
or a combination thereof <
25mtr in breadth
 Length: < 50mtr; length
of tow < 200mtr
 Fog Signal :
 Aspect: port side open  If first or last tow manned:

 Day Signal: ball, diamond, ball in place of

the red white red allround lights
 Underway possibly making way  One short blast, alter to starboard
  Fog Signal?
 Fog Signal :
 Type ?
 If first or last tow manned:
 Power vessel engaged in towing
 Intervals not exceeding 2 mins
 Length ?  Day signal ?

 Towing vessel
 Seen less
two thanon
points your port bow,None….why
50mtr
 Lengthwhat
of tow less than
action ? 200 mtr ?
 Under way / making
way ? way, possibly making way
 Under
 Take series of bearings to determine if risk of collision
 Aspect ?
exists
 End on
 If risk of collision, then stand on with caution……why?