RULE 3 – GENERAL DEFINITIONS

Maritime Collision Regulations

Dr. Gobikrishnan Veluplay

Maritime Safety, PhD, University ofSouthampton, UK (2020)
Maritime Safety Management, MSc, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, (2014)
Nautical Science and Maritime Transportation, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, (2012)

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 Rule 3 - General definitions

 Vessel Rule 3 § (a)

– Every water craft including:

 Non-displacement craft
 WIG craft
 Seaplanes
– Used or capable of being used as a means of
transportation on water

© www.synfo.com 1
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Types of Vessels
– Every description of water craft used as a means of
transportation on water
 Merchant vessels
 Pleasure craft
 Large and small vessels
 Fast or slow vessels
 Non-conventional vessels
– Dredgers
– Non-displacement craft
– Seaplanes
– Dredgers 2
– Etc. © 2000 - 2009 Heikki Helen
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

– Vessel propelled by machinery

– Vessel capable of using her machinery
immediately
– Vessel using her own machinery (e.g. not that of a
tug)

© www.staevenstil.nu
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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

General Cargo Ship

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©
www.trans-inst.org
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Oil Tanker

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© indonetwork.net
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Oil Tanker -
OilOil
VLCC Oil OilTankerTTan
ker anker -LV VLCC-
VLCC CC-
VLCCTanker -

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© industry.bnet.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Bulk carrier

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© www.british-shipping.org
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Gas tanker

8
© www.anthonyveder.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

LNG Tanker

© www.lngpedia.com 9
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Chemical Tanker

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© www.nykline.co.jp
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Chemical Tanker

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© www.anthonyveder.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Handymax Bulker

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© www.mol.co.jp
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Ore Carrier

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© www.mol.co.jp
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Container Ship

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© www.ships-info.info
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Fruit Ship

© Dole.com 15
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Car Carrier

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©
www.ships-info.info
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Heavy Lift Carrier

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© www.beluga-group.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Large Motor Yacht

© www.esp-av.com 18
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Small Motor Yacht

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© www.sprungmann-yachting.de
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Navy Ships

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© www.thenee.eu
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Hovercraft

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© www.wired.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Power-driven vessel Rule 3 § (b)

Jetfoil

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© www.marine-marchande.net
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Sailing vessel Rule 3 § (c)

– Vessel propelled by sails

– If fitted with an engine, engine may not be running
at all (even with propeller not engaged)

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Sailing vessel Rule 3 § (c)

Sailing Vessel

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© Daniel
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Sailing vessel Rule 3 § (c)

Small Sailing Yacht

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Sailing vessel Rule 3 § (c)

Large Sailing Yacht

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© www.nolimitsyachts.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
Rule 3 § (d)

 Vessel engaged in fishing

– When fishing with apparatus restricting her
manoeuvrability

 Vessel NOT engaged in fishing

– Fishing with trolling lines or other apparatus not
affecting the manoeuvrability
– Pole and line fishing vessels
– Yachts fishing with short lines

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

At sea, the main fishing vessels encountered

are:
– Side trawlers
– Beam trawlers
– Stern trawlers
– Drift net fishers
– Seine net fishers
– Long line fishers
For details on fishing methods, see Rule 26
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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

Side Trawler

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© www.hmsbacchante.co.uk
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

Stern Trawler

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© www.greenpeace.org
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

Russian Factory Trawler

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© www.greenpeace.org
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

Beam Trawler

Beam Trawler

© www.fao.org © www.turboned.nl

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

Drift Net Fishing

© www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

Longline

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© www.afma.gov.au © www.photolib.noaa.gov
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel NOT engaged in fishing Rule 3 § (d)

Trolling

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Seaplane Rule 3 § (e)

Seaplane

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© www.flyingthefish.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Seaplane Rule 3 § (e)

Seaplane
Seaplan
e

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© www.gigharborwaterfrontchoices.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
Rule 3 § (f)

 Vessel not under command

– Through exceptional circumstance
– Unable to manoeuvre
– As required by the Rules
– Unable to keep out of the way

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel not under command (NUC) Rule 3 § (f)

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© www.menkent.dk
 Rule 3 - General definitions
Rule 3 § (f)

 Vessel entirely not under command

– Engine breakdown
– Rudder breakdown
– Sailing vessel that has become becalmed
– Etc.

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel not under command (NUC) Rule 3 § (f)

Vessel on Fire

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© travel.webshots.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel not under command (NUC) Rule 3 § (f)

Vessel on Fire

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© lankadailynews.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
Rule 3 § (f)

 Vessel partially not under command

– Difficulty in keeping the course due to adverse
weather
– Forced to heave to secure cargo which has
begun to move
– Etc.

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel not under command (NUC) Rule 3 § (f)

NUC in heavy weather

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© http://nourishingobscurity.blogspot.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel not under command (NUC) Rule 3 § (f)

Yacht NUC in heavy weather

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© 52sails.org
 Rule 3 - General definitions
Rule 3 § (g)

 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre

Vessel which from the nature of her work:
– Is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
– As required by the Rules and
– Is unable to keep out of the way

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
Rule 3 § (g)
 Examples
– Buoying or beacon ships
– Lighthouse tenders
– Cable ships
– Dredgers
– Survey vessels
– Salvage vessels
– Supply vessels
– Aircraft-carriers in operation
– Mineclearence ships
– Towing vessels unable to deviate from her course
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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (i)


Buoying or Beacon Ship
Buoy and Beacon Ship

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© www.mvcapedonsociety.org.au
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (i)

Buoyage or Beacon Vessel

© www.damen.ro
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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (i)

Lighthouse Tender

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (i)

Cable Layer

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© www.ship-technology.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (i)

Pipe-Laying Vessel

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© myweb.tiscali.co.uk
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Research Vessel

© www.jamstec.go.jp

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
DREDGING Rule 3 § (g) (ii)
Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly
underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up
bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location (www.wilkipedia.org)
The main types of dredgers are:
• Bucket dredgers
• Trailing suction hopper dredgers
• Cutter suction hopper dredgers
• Split hopper dredgers
• Backhoe dredgers
• Stone dumping and Fallpipe vessels

• Floating cranes
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• Reclamation dredgers
© www.iadc-dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)
Suction Dredger
A stationary dredger used to mine
for sand. The suction pipe is pushed
vertically into a sand deposited. If
necessary water jets help to bring
the sand up. It is loaded into
barges or pumped via pipeline
directly to the reclamation area
Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger
A self propelled ship which fills its
hold or hopper during dredging,
while following a pre-set track. The
hopper can be emptied by o bottom
doors or valves (dumping) or by
pumping its load ashore. This kind
of dredger is mainly used in open
water: rivers, canals, estuaries and
the open sea.
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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)
Cutter Suction Dredger
A stationary dredger which
makes use of a cutter head to
loosen the material to be
dredged. It pumps the dredged
material via a pipeline ashore or
into barges. While dredging the
cutter head describes arcs and is
swung around the spudpole
powered by winches. The cutter
head can be replaced by several
kinds of suction heads for special
purposes, such as
environmental dredging.
Reclamation Dredger
A stationary dredger used to
empty hopper barges. A suction
pipe is lowered into the barge.
Extra water can be added by
water by water jets to facilitate
the suction process. The dredged
material is pumped by pipeline
ashore, to a reclamation area, or
to a storage depot.
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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

© www.hrsms.org
Bucket Dredger

Bucket dredgers raise bottom sediments to the surface. The buckets are
attached to a chain and graded according to size (200 to 1,000 litres). Bucket
dredgers are held in place by anchors. These days, this classic vessel is
mainly used on environmental dredging projects. (www.boskalis.com/ 57
vervolg_vloot.php?pageID=123)
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger Rule 3 § (g) (ii)
A hopper dredger is a self propelled ship which fills its hold or hopper during
dredging, while following a pre-set track. The hopper can be emptied by bottom
doors or valves (dumping) or by pumping its load ashore. This kind of dredger is
mainly used in open water: rivers, canals, estuaries and the open sea.

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© www.dcsc.tudelft.nl
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger

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www.dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Trailing Suction Dredger

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© www.cedd.gov.hk
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Cutter Dredger
Cutter Hopper Dredger

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© www.medcodredging.com

© www.dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Split Hopper Dredgers Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

© www.boschrexroth.com

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© www.southchinashipyard.com © www.floatingplantservices.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Backhoe Dredger

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® www.dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Cutter Suction Dredger

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© www.boksalis.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Split Barge

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©
www.dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Grab Dredger

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©
www.boksalis.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

D.P. Side Stone Dumping Vessel

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©
www.dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Water Injection Dredger

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© www.dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Lifting Vessel

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©
www.dredging.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Fallpipe Vessel

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© www.boksalis.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (ii)

Underwater Operations

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (iii)

Vessels Engaged in Replenishment

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© www.carter-hall.navy.mil
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (iii)

Transferring persons

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© www.destroyersonline.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (iii)

Transferring Provisions or Caqrgo

© destroyermen.blogspot.com
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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (iv)

Launching or Recovery of Aircraft

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© www.topnews.in
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (v)

Mine Clearance Operations

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© http://admin.royalnavy.mod.uk
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 § (g) (vi)

Difficult Towing Operation

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel constrained by her draught Rule 3 § h

– Power-driven vessel
– Draught in relation to water depth restricts her
manoeuvrability
– Not applicable to sailing vessels

© www.scubadoctor.com.au

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel constrained by her draught Rule 3 § (h)

© www.southamptonvts.co.

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel Underway (Rule 3 § (I))

– Not at anchor
– Not made fast to the shore
– Not aground

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel at anchor is NOT Underway Rule 3 § i

Vessel at Anchor

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©
www.bobleroi.co.uk
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel made fast to the shore is NOT
Underway Rule 3 § i
Vessel Moored

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©
nl.wilkipedia.org
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessel aground is NOT Underway Rule 3 § i

Verssel
Aground

© www.explorermagazin.de 83
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Underway and:
– Making way though the water
 Moving with regard to the water (vessel can be
stopped with regard to the bottom when there is
current)

– Not making way through the water

 Stopped with regard to the water (vessel can move with
regard to the bottom when there is current)

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Conclusion
A vessel can be:
 Not underway
 Underway and making way through the water
 Underway and not making way through the water

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Underway and not making way through the
water

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© www.allproducts.com
Rule 3 - General definitions
• Length and breadth of a vessel (Rule 3 § j)

• LOA = Length over all

• Beam = Breadth 87
©
www.globalsecurity.org
Rule 3 - General definitions
 Vessels in sight of one another (Rule 3 § k)

–When one can be observed visually from the other

–It doesn’t apply to vessels observing one another on the
radar

88
© en.ce.cn
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Restricted visibility Rule 3 § (k)

Visibility restricted by:

— Fog
— Mist
— Falling snow
— Heavy rainstorm
— Sandstorms or
— Any other similar cause

89
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Restricted visibility Rule 3 § (l)

Fog -
Mist

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© www.simsl.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Restricted visibility Rule 3 § (l)

Visibility restricted on Sb-side

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© flickr.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Restricted visibility Rule 3 § (l)

Snowstorm

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 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Restricted visibility Rule 3 § (l)

Rainstorm

© www.varimeteo.net 93
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Restricted visibility Rule 3 § (l)

Rainstorm

94
©
www.usscusk.com
 Rule 3 - General definitions
 Restricted visibility Rule 3 § (l)

Sandstorm

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© www.bbc.co.uk
 Rule 3 - General definitions

 Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft Rule 3 § (m)

– Multimodal craft
– Flying in close proximity to the surface
– Utilizing surface-effect action

96
Rule 3 - General definitions
WIG-craft Rule 3 § (m)

97
© en.wikipedia.org