Page 212 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

218 NAVAL SKILLS

speed, stopping, altering course to starboard, or backing down. from its berth, it will sOllnd three short blasts, indicating that the
Vessels are prohibited from turning left in order to cross ahead of ship has sternway. The backing signal follows the prolonged blast
the stand-oil vessel. for change of status.
In international rules, the give-way vessel must sound one
short blast for a turn to starboard, two for a turn to port. Signals
Avoid ing Collisions
are not sounded unless course changes are made. In inland waters,
the give-way vessel must sound a short blast to indicate its intent The stand-on vessel normally has the right-of-way, that is, the legal
to leave the stand-all vessel to port. The signal is answered with a responsibility to maintain course and speed in crossing and over-
short blast to indicate agreement. The give-way vessel then maneu- taking situations. In unusual instances, however, this might not
\'ers if necessary to pass astern of the st;md-on vessel. be the thing to do if a collision is to be avoided. For example, in a
driving situation on land, the driver of an approaching car 111<.1), f~lil
Overtaking Situation to stop at a stop sign or red light, either by mistake or because the
brakes failed. Under sllch circulllstances, it would not show good
In an overtakillg sitllatioll, in both sets of rules the o\'ertaking
judgment to keep on going <.1I1d plow into the car because the law
vessel is the give-way vessel. The overtaking vessel must keep cleM
of the overtaken vessel. In international waters, a ship that can pass ga\'e you the "right -of-way." In fact, the coml would be apt to judge
sllch a dri\'er guilty of driving without control of his or her vehicle.
another without a change of COl11'se may do so without a signal.
Similarly, both inland and international rules of the road
If it must change course to pass, it sounds one short blast if turn-
require a vessel's captain to take action to a\'oid collision even if
ing to the right, or two short blasts if turning to the lel1. and does
this might violate the rules. International and inland rule num-
not have to wait for an answer. If the overtaken vessel considers the
ber 8 says, "Any action t<.lken to avoid collision shall, if the circum-
maneuver dangerous, it sounds the danger signal of five or more
stances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and
short blasts, warning that the action is too dangerous and may
with due regard to the observance of good seamanship." Therefore,
involve risk of collision.
a vessel may depart from the requirements of the rules of the road
In inland waters, an o\'ertaking vessel cannot pass another
when there is imminent danger of collision. Such a danger of colli-
until signaling on which side it intends to pass. The overtaking ves-
sion is called "in extremis."
sel sounds one short blast if proposing to pass the other vessel on
A departure from the rules of the road is permissible only
its starboard side, and two if proposing to pass on its port side. The
when an immediate danger or special circumstance exists, or when
overtaking vessel must give a signal whether or not it must change
the ordinary practice of seamen dictates a departure from the
course to pass, and it may not pass until it hears the agreeing signal
rules-for example, when more than two vessels are approaching
from the vessel ahead.
one another. Otherwise, the rules must be stricti)' followed.
If the ship being overtaken considers the proposed maneu-
vcr risky, it sounds the danger signal of five or more short blasts,
followed by a signal for what it considers the safer procedure. The
Fog Signals
overtaking vessel then may answer this signal, and pass on the rec-
ommended side. Under both sets of rules, audible fog sigllals are sounded in <1ny
condition that reduces visibility to under the range of a side-
light in any direction around a vessel under way or at anchor.
C hannels, Bends, and Leaving a Berth Such reduced \,isibility conditions may be caused by a number of
things, including fog, l~llling snow, mist, or heavy rain. Signals are
Both inland and international rules say that powered vessels must
sounded both day and night in such weather. In addition, running
keep to the starboard side of a narrow channel. Both sets of rules
lights are turned on if under way, and anchor lights arc turned on
provide that a powered vessel approaching a bend ill a channel,
if anchored or moored.
if unable to sec for at least half a mile ahead (defined as a blind
A power-driven vessel sounds a prolonged blast of from four
bend), mllst sound a proJDllged blast of fom to sLx seconds dura-
to six seconds duration on the whistle at least every two min-
tion on the whistle. This mllst be answered with a prolonged blast
utes when it has way on in a fog. If stopped but under way (not
from any approaching vessel that hears it. If no answer is received,
anchored, moored, or aground), it sounds two prolonged blasts,
the first vessel may consider the channel ahead clear and ma)' pro-
two seconds apart, at least once every two minutes. If anchored, a
ceed with customary caution. After vessels are in sight, the usual
bell is rung for about five seconds at intervals of not more than one
signals for meeting and passing should be given.
minute. If the ship is over 100 meters ( feet) in length, the bell is
A vessel leaving its dock or berth (change of status) also sounds
sounded in the forward part of the ship, followed by the sounding
a prolonged blast in inland waters. This is sounded whether or not
of a five-second gong in the after part of the ship. If the anchored
vision is obscured beyond the slip or berth. If the ship is backing
ship believes there is possibility of collision, it may sOllnd three