ART. 24. Notwithstanding anyART. 24. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules thing contained in these rules every vessel, overtaking any other, every vessel, overtaking any other, INTERNATIONAL RULES shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel. INLAND RULES shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel. Every vessel coming up with Every vessel coming up with another vessel from any direction another vessel from any direction more than two points abaft her more than two points abaft her beam, that is, in such a position, beam, that is, in such a position, with reference to the vessel which with reference to the vessel which she is overtaking that at night she she is overtaking that at night she would be unable to see either of would be unable to see either of that vessel's side lights, shall be that vessel's side lights, shall be deemed to be an overtaking vessel; deemed to be an overtaking vesand no subsequent alteration of sel; and no subsequent alteration the bearing between the two ves- of the bearing between the two sels shall make the overtaking ves-vessels shall make the overtaking sel a crossing vessel within the vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these rules, or relieve meaning of these rules, or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear her of the duty of keeping clear of of the overtaken vessel until she is the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear. finally past and clear. As by day the overtaking vessel can not always know with certainty whether she is forward of or abaft this direction from the other vessel she should, if in doubt, assume that she is an overtaking vessel and keep out of the way. NARROW CHANNELS ART. 25. In narrow channels every steam vessel shall, when it is safe and practicable, keep to that side of the fairway or midchannel which lies on the starboard side of such vessel. RIGHT OF WAY OF FISHING VESSELS ART. 26. 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. GENERAL PRUDENTIAL RULE ART. 27. In obeying and constru As by day the overtaking vessel can not always know with certainty whether she is forward of or abaft this direction from the other vessels she should, if in doubt, assume that she is an overtaking vessel and keep out of the way. NARROW CHANNELS ART. 25. In narrow channels every steam vessel shall, when it is safe and practicable, keep to that side of the fairway or midchannel which lies on the starboard side of such vessel. RIGHT OF WAY OF FISHING VESSELS ART. 26. Sailing vessels under way shall keep out of the way of sailing vessels or boats fishing with nets, 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. GENERAL PRUDENTIAL RULE ART. 27. In obeying and constru ing these rules due regard shall being these rules due regard shall be INTERNATIONAL RULES INLAND RULES had to all dangers of navigation had to all dangers of navigation and collision, and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. SOUND SIGNALS FOR PASSING STEAMERS ART. 28. The words "short blast" used in this article shall mean a blast of about one second's duration. When vessels are in sight of one another, a steam vessel under way, in taking any course authorized or required by these rules, shall indicate that course by the following signals on her whistle or siren, namely: One short blast to mean, "I am directing my course to starboard." Two short blasts to mean, "I am directing my course to port." Three short blasts to mean, "My engines are going at full speed astern." PRECAUTION and collision, and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. SOUND SIGNALS FOR PASSING [See article eighteen.] ART. 28. When vessels are in sight of one another a steam vessel under way whose engines are going at full speed astern shall indicate that fact by three short blasts on the whistle. PRECAUTION ART. 29. Nothing in these rules ART. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner or master or crew thereof, owner or master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the neglect of any lookout, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of sea-by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case. ART. 30. [See page 1.] men, or by the special circumstances of the case. LIGHTS ON UNITED STATES NAVAL VESSELS AND REVENUE CUTTERS ART. 30. The exhibition of any light on board of a vessel of war of the United States or a Coast Guard cutter may be suspended whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of INTERNATIONAL RULES DISTRESS SIGNALS INLAND RULES the Navy, the commander in chief of a squadron, or the commander of a vessel acting singly, the special character of the service may require it. DISTRESS SIGNALS ART. 31. When a vessel is in ART. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance distress and requires assistance from other vessels or from the from other vessels or from the shore the following shall be the shore_the_following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by signal to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, her, either together or separately, namely: namely: In the daytime— First. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute. Second. The international code signal of distress indicated by NC. Third. The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. At night First. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute. Second. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, and so forth). Third. Rockets or shells throwing stars of any color or description, fired one at a time, at short intervals. Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. ORDERS TO HELMSMEN ART. 32. All orders to helmsmen shall be given as follows: "Right Rudder" to mean "Direct the vessel's head to board." In the daytime— A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus, or firing a gun. At night First. Flames on the vessel as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, and so forth. Second. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus, or firing a gun. ORDERS TO HELMSMEN ART. 32. All orders to helmsmen shall be given as follows: "Right Rudder" to mean "Distar-rect the vessel's head to starboard." "Left Rudder" to mean "Direct the vessel's head to port.". "Left Rudder" to mean "Direct the vessel's head to port." ACT OF SEPTEMBER 4, 1890, IN REGARD TO COLLISIONS AT SEA, THAT WENT INTO EFFECT DECEMBER 15, 18907 66 By the President of the United States of America Whereas an act of Congress in regard to collisions at sea was approved September 4, 1890, the said act being in the following words: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in every case of collision between two vessels it shall be the duty of the master or person in charge of each vessel, if and so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own vessel, crew, and passengers (if any), to stay by the other vessel until he has ascertained that she has no need of further assistance, and to render to the other vessel, her master, crew, and passengers (if any) such assistance as may be practicable and as may be necessary in order to save them from any danger caused by the collision, and also to give to the master or person in charge of the other vessel the name of his own vessel and her port of registry, or the port or place to which she belongs, and also the name of the ports and places from which and to which she is bound. If he fails so to do, and no reasonable cause for such failure is shown, the collision shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be deemed to have been caused by his wrongful act, neglect, or default. "SEC. 2. That every master or person in charge of a United States vessel who fails, without reasonable cause, to render such assistance or give such information as aforesaid shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; and for the above sum the vessel shall be liable and may be seized and proceeded against by process in any district court of the United States by any person; one-half such sum to be payable to the informer and the other to the United States. "SEC. 3. That this act shall take effect at a time to be fixed by the President by Proclamation issued for that purpose." And whereas it is provided by section 3 of the said act that it shall take effect at a time to be fixed by the President by proclamation issued for that purpose: Now, therefore, I, Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States of America, do hereby, in virtue of the authority vested in me by section 3 of the said act, proclaim the fifteenth day of December, 1890, as the day on which the said act shall take effect. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and fifteenth. [SEAL] By the President: JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State. 726 Stat. 425; 33 U. S. C. 367, 368. BENJ. HARRISON. |