RULE 3

GENERAL DEFINITIONS
A.The word “vessel” includes every description of watercraft including no-
displacement craft, WIG craft and seaplanes used or capable of being used as
a means of transportation on water.
Meaning: All types of craft that float on water and are used as a means of
transportation. Also include are crafts, which do not displace water - such as
hovecraft. A seaplane when on the water displaces water so as long as it is on
the surface of the water it is considered as a vessel. All barges are also include
since no propulsion system has been mentioned in this part of the Rule.
B. The term “power-driven vessel” means any vessel propelled by machinery.
Meaning: Power means power obtained from machinery, such as diesel
engines, from the smallest to the largest , sailing vessels are not include as long
they are purely under sail, vessels under oars also included.
C. The term “sailing vessel” means any vessel under sail provides that
propelling machinery it fitted, is not being used.
• Meaning: Sailing vessels of today rely on some form of machinery propulsion,
that is when the wind is calm and the sailing vessel is not moving the sailing
vessels (some of them) have provision for use of their main engine and
propeller. So as long as this main engine on sailing vessels is not use they are
termed as sailing vessels, the moment their main engine is started they are
termed as power driven vessels, even if they hoist sails.
D. The term “vessel engaged in fishing” means any vessel fishing with nets, lines,
trawls or other fishing appratus which restrict manoeuvrability, but does no include
a vessel fishing with trolling lines opr other fishing apparatus which do not restrict
manoeuvrability.
• Meaning: Fishing vessels means vessels actually fishing and which due to thier
equipment in the water are unable to move away and keep clear of other not
restrcit thier taking evasive, action for safety then they are not termed as fishing
vessels. The equipment as specified under the Rules is nets, lines (long line
tune fishing), trawls or other equipment, which are similar.
E. The word “seaplane” includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the
water.\
Meaning: Obvious meaning, an aircraft which in an emergency is landing
(ditching) in the water woul not termed as a seaplane, only those planes whioch
by their construction and purpose can safely land, tak off and manoeuvre to a pier
or jetty are called seaplanes.
F. The term “vessel not under command” means a vessels which through some
exeptional circumstances is unable to maoeuvre as required by these Rules and
is, therefore, unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
Meaning: Here a vessel not under command means any vessel, which because of
some reason cannot keep out of the way of other vessels. Like ME breakdown
and she cannot anchor, steering failure, launchiong a rescue boat or lifeboat.
G. The term “vessels restricted in her ability' means a vessels which from the
nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manopeuvre as required by these
Rules and is, therefore, unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
Meaning: This includesa ship which is doing some special work by which she can
move only in one direction - say ahead, but cannot alter her course to take evasive
action neither can she slow down or speed up to avoid a collision then in that case the
vessel would be restricted in her ability to manoeuvre.
The following are the vessels as declared under these Rules to be vessels restricted in
her ability to maoeuvre', however this list not absolute and final, this is a general
guidance for such vessel, any vessel other than thjose in the list may also be 'vessels
restricted in their ability to manoeuvre'.
The term “vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre” shall include but not limited
to:
1. A vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigational mark, submarine
cable or pipeline;
2. A vessel engaged in dranging, surveying or underwater operations;
3. A vessel engaged in repleshment or transferrinng persons, provisions or cargo while
underway;
4.A vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;
5. A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;
6. A vessel engaged in a towing operations such as severely restricts the towing vessel
and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.
7. The term “vessels restricted in her ability to manoeuvre' shall inlcude but not limited
to:
8.Meaning: shall include bu not limited to' this means that the Rules define the following
vessels as being restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, but the classification of ships is
not limited to the vessels already described, other vessels may also be include if they
are also restricted in her ability to manoeuvre.
9. H. The term “ vessel constrained by her draught” means a power-driven vessel,
which, because of her draught in relation to the available depth and width of navigable of
water, is severely restricted in hner ability to deviate from the course she is following.
10. Meaning: This is applicable to POWER DRIVEN VESSELS, which because of their
draft in comparison to the depth of water at the place is so great that she cannot alter to
avoid a collision since to do that they would run aground.
11. However, if there were an adequate width of the channel through which they are
moving the they would not be classed as constrained by draught.
Thus a VLCC with a draft of 18m would be classed as a vessel constrained by her
draught in a channel where the least depth is 21m (3m safety for squat etc) and the
width of the channel us just 600 metres, but in the Pacific, she would be an ordinary
vessel.
13. If the channel or bay is such that all over the bay depth is as mentioned but the size
of the bat is 30NM by 40NM the she would not be a vessel constrained by her draft.
14. I. The word “underway” means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the
shore, or aground.
15.Meaning: This term is somewhat vague. The opinion has been held that a vessel,
which is international, anchorde with a proper anchor and intends to hold ger position,
is anchored. but if the vessel dropped her anchor to turn the vessel in a tide or
dredging meaning that the anchor has been drop[ped underfoot and the vessel is being
dragged or is under her own power and is steaming astern (the anchor helps keeping
the bow in line) then in these cases the vessel would not be termed as at anchor.
16. If the vessel drags her acnhor and moves away then too she is not a anchor.
17. Thus the meaning of at anchor means in realation to the made fast to shore and
aground that is the ship cannot move or drift away.
18. J. The words “length' and 'breadth” of a vessel means her overall lenght and her
greatest breath.
Meaning:Here LBP does not mean the length.
K. Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be
observed visually from the other.
Meaning: The vessel being observed should be capable of being seen with the
observer's eyes and not by any electronic device, this is so because the aspects of the
vessel is very important , the human brain analyses data from input more effectively
than an electronic device. A change in other. A change in other vessels heading is very
readily apparent when observing visually, by electronic means it has a time lag.
L. The term “restrcited visibility” means any condition in which visibilty is restricted by
fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.
Meaning. Restricted visibilty may be caused by any the aboveconditions and also by
any other means, for example, the smoke from forest fires / Volcanic Eruptions
(recently: 2015) in the Indonesian forests had drastically reduced visibility in the
Malaca Straits some years back.
M. The term “Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft” means a multimodal craft which, in its main
operational mode, files in close proximity to the surface by utilising surface-effect
action.
Power-Driven Vessel
Vessel Restricted In her Ability To Manoeuvre
Vessel Engaged in Fishing
Seaplane
Vessel not under command