her speed to bare steerageway, and navigate with caution until the vessels shall have passed each other. Rule 15. § 322.14 NOTE. For explanation of the term moderate speed, see note to Article 16, International, p. 68. Danger Signal Required If the pilot of a steam vessel to which a passing signal is sounded deems it unsafe to accept and assent to said signal, he shall not sound a cross signal; but in that case, and in every case where the pilot of one steamer fails to understand the course or intention of an approaching steamer, whether from signals being given or answered erroneously, or from other causes, the pilot of such steamer so receiving the first passing signal, or the pilot so in doubt, shall sound several short and rapid blasts of the whistle; and if the vessels shall have approached within half a mile of each other both shall reduce their speed to bare steerageway, and if necessary, stop and reverse. Rule 26 If, when steamers are approaching each other, the pilot of either vessel fails to understand the course or intention of the other, whether from signals being given or answered erroneously or from other causes, the pilot so in doubt shall immediately signify the same by giving the danger signal of several short and rapid blast's of the whistle, not less than five; and if both vessels shall have approached within half a mile of each other, both shall be immediately slowed to a speed barely sufficient for steerageway, and, if necessary, stopped and reversed, until the proper signals are given, answered, and understood, or until the vessels shall have passed each other. § 322.2 NOTE.-On the Great Lakes the signals for meeting and passing are also used in foggy weather, in addition to the special fog signals indicated by the foregoing rules. See Part II, The Meaning of Whistle Signals, Except Fog Signals. WESTERN RIVERS Fog Signals (a) Whenever there is a fog or thick weather, whether by day or night, fog signals shall be used as follows: Steam vessels under way shall sound a steam whistle placed before the funnel, not less than eight feet from the deck, at intervals of not more than one minute. Steam vessels, when towing, shall sound three blasts of quick succession, repeated at intervals of not more than one minute. (b) Sail vessels under way shall sound a fog horn at intervals of not more than one minute. (c) Steam vessels and sail vessels, when not under way, shall sound a bell at intervals of not more than two minutes. (D) Coal boats, trading boats, produce boats, canal boats, oyster boats, fishing boats, rafts, or other water craft navigating any bay, harbor, or river, by handpower, horsepower, sail, or by the current of the river, or anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway of any bay, harbor, or river, and not in any port, shall sound à fog horn, or equivalent signal, which shall make a sound equal to a steam whistle, at intervals of not more than two minutes. Rule 15, a, b, c, d In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, whether by day or night, the signals described in this rule shall be used by steam vessels: (a) A steam vessel under way in fog or thick weather shall sound at intervals of not more than 1 minute, a prolonged blast of the whistle, of from 4 to 6 seconds' duration, except that when towing one or more vessels she shall sound three blasts of the whistle in quick succession. (b) A steam vessel when at anchor in fog or thick weather shall, at intervals of not more than 1 minute, ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds. (c) Steamers on rivers whose waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico lying to during fog or thick weather, when the fog whistle or any sound is heard indicating the approach of another steamer, shall, if lying on the right shore, or right bank, give one tap of the bell; if lying on left shore, or left bank, give two taps of the bell, at intervals of not more than 1 minute, to indicate their presence, which signals shall continue until the approaching steamer has passed. Right and left shore or bank is understood by facing downstream or with the flow of the current. § 332.12 NOTE.-On Western Rivers, the use of passing signals is not expressly limited to cases where the vessels are in sight, and may, therefore, be used in fog, as on the Great Lakes. Moderate Speed Required; Speed to be Reduced, etc. Every steam vessel shall, in thick weather, by reason of fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rain storms, or other causes, go at moderate speed. A steam vessel hearing, apparently not more than four points from right ahead, the fog signal of another vessel shall at once reduce her speed to bare steerageway, and navigate with caution until the vessels shall have passed each other. § 332.13(a) NOTE. For explanation of the term moderate speed, see note to Article 16, International, p. 68. Cross Signals Forbidden; Use Danger Signal If from any cause the signals for passing are not made at the proper time, as provided in § 332.1, or should the signals be given and not properly understood, from any cause whatever, and either steamer become imperiled thereby, the pilot. on either steamer may be the first to sound the alarm or danger signal, which shall consist of four or more short and rapid blasts of the whistle. Whenever the danger signal is given, the engines of both steamers shall be stopped and backed until the headway of the steamers has been fully checked; nor shall the engines of either steamer be again started ahead until the steamers can safely pass each other. Steamers approaching each other from opposite directions are forbidden to use what has become technically known among pilots as "cross signals" that is, answering one whistle with two, and answering two whistles with one. In all cases, and under all circumstances, a pilot receiving either of the whistle signals provided in the rules in this part, which for any reason he deems injudicious to comply with, instead of answering it with a cross signal, shall at once observe the provisions of this section. § 332.2 In fog, if you hit an anchored vessel you are self-convicted of excessive speed because you have used all the visibility and are still going. No rule requires a privileged vessel to hold course and speed until collision is inevitable. RIGHT OF WAY NOTE. The purpose of this part is to show the various situations where the rules to be followed are in accordance with the theory of privilege and burden. Under this theory it is assumed that collision will best be prevented by requiring one vessel, called the privileged vessel, to continue exactly what she is doing from the time risk of collision begins until the vessels are finally past and clear, and for the other vessel, called the burdened vessel, to take all the positive action necessary to keep out of her way. This theory is practicable only so long as both vessels do their duty; hence the rule requiring the privileged vessel to keep course and speed is just as strictly enforced as the rules requiring the burdened vessel to keep clear, to avoid crossing ahead, and to reduce speed. Despite the initial requirement that the privileged vessel hold course and speed, the footnote of Article 21 in the International Rules, and the general prudential rule in every set of rules, make it clear that she does not exercise this duty right into the collision itself. On the contrary, before collision becomes inevitable, and as soon as it is apparent that it will be inevitable if the privileged vessel continues to hold course and speed, she is required to take such (other) action as will best aid to avert collision, and this new duty is as definite as was the original duty to hold on. INTERNATIONAL Privileged Vessel to Keep Course and Speed, etc. Where, by any of these rules, one or two vessels is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed. NOTE. When, in consequence of thick weather or other causes, such vessel finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the giving-way vessel alone, she also shall take such action as will best aid to avert collision. [See articles twenty-seven and twenty-nine.] Art. 21, 27, 29 Burdened Vessel to Keep Clear Every vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other. Art. 22 Every steam vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, on approaching her, if necessary, slacken her speed, or stop, or reverse. Vessels Specified as Privileged 1. Two Steam Vessels Crossing Art. 23 When two vessels are crossing, so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other. Art. 19 2. One Vessel Overtaking Another Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules every vessel, over 74 taking any other, shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel.***** Art. 24 3. One Sailing Vessel Approaching Another When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other, as follows, namely: (a) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is closehauled. (b) A vessel which is closehauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is closehauled on the starboard tack. (c) When both are running free, with the wind on different sides, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other. (d) When both are running free, with the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to the windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to the leeward. (e) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of the other vessel. Art. 17 4. Steam and Sailing Vessels Approaching Each Other When a steam vessel and a sailing vessel are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam vessel shall keep out of the way of the sailing vessel. Art. 20 5. Sailing Vessel Approaching Sailing Vessel with Fishing Gear Out Sailing vessels under way shall keep out of the way of sailing vessels or boats fishing with nets, or lines, or trawls. This rule shall not give to any vessel or boat engaged in fishing the right of obstructing a fairway used by vessels other than fishing vessels or boats. Art. 26 |