In fog, mist, or falling snow, whether by day or night, the signals described in this Article shall be used as follows; that is to say, (a.) A steam ship under way shall make with her steam whistle or other steam sound signal, at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, a prolonged blast. (b.) A sailing ship under way shall make with her fog horn, at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, when on the starboard tack one blast; when on the port tack two blasts in succession; and when with the wind abaft the beam three blasts in succession. (c.) A steam ship and a sailing ship, when not under way, shall, at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, ring the bell. Art. 13. Speed of Ships to be moderate in Fog, &c.—Every ship, whether a sailing ship or steam ship, shall, in a fog, mist, or falling snow, go at a moderate speed. STEERING AND SAILING RULES. Art. 14. Sailing Ships.-When two sailing ships 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, viz. :— (a.) A ship which is running free shall keep out of the way of a ship which is close-hauled. (b.) A ship which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a ship which is close-hauled on the starboard tack. (c.) When both are running free with the wind on different sides, the ship 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 ship which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the ship which is to leeward. (e.) A ship which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of the other ship. Art. 15. Steam Ships Meeting.—If two ships under steam are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to starboard, so that each may pass on the port side of the other. This Article only applies to cases where ships are meeting end on, or nearly end on, in such a manner as to involve risk of collision, and does not apply to two ships which must, if both keep on their respective courses, pass clear of each other. The only cases to which it does apply are, when each of the two ships is end on, or nearly end on, to the other; in other words, to cases in which, by day, each ship sees the masts of the other in a line, or nearly in a line, with her own; and by night, to cases in which each ship is in such a position as to see both the side lights of the other. It does not apply, by day, to cases in which a ship sees another ahead crossing her own course; or by night, to cases where the red light of one ship is opposed to the red light of the other, or where the green light of one ship is opposed to the green light of the other, or where a red light without a green light, or a green light without a red light, is seen ahead, or where both green and red lights are seen anywhere but ahead. Art. 16. Two Ships under Steam Crossing.-If two ships under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the ship which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other. Art. 17. Sailing Ship and Ship under Steam.-If two ships, one of which is a sailing ship and the other a steam ship, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam ship shall keep out of the way of the sailing ship. Art. 18. Ships under Steam to Slacken Speed.-Every steam ship, when approaching another ship, so as to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or stop and reverse, if necessary. Art. 19. Signals by Steam Whistle.-In taking any course authorised or required by these Regulations, a steam ship under way may indicate that course to any other ship which she has in sight by the following signals on her steam whistle, viz. :— One short blast to mean "I am directing my course to starboard.” Three short blasts to mean "I am going full speed astern." The use of these signals is optional, but if they are used the course of the ship must be in accordance with the signal made. Art. 20. A Vessel Overtaking another Vessel.-Notwithstanding anything contained in any preceding Article, every ship, whether a sailing ship or a steam ship, overtaking any other, shall keep out of the way of the overtaken ship. Art. 21. Steam Ships in Narrow Channels.-In narrow channels every steam ship shall, when it is safe and practicable, keep to that side of the fairway or mid-channel which lies on the starboard side of such ship. Art. 22. Construction of above Rules.-Where by the above rules one of two ships is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course. Art. 23. Proviso to Save Special Cases.-In obeying and construing these rules, due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation, and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. Art. 24. No Ship, under any Circumstances, to Neglect Proper Precautions.— Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, or the owner, or master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper look-out, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case. Art. 25. Rules for Harbours and Inland Navigation.-Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of a special rule, duly made by local authority, relative to the navigation of any harbour, river, or inland navigation. Art. 26. Special Lights for Squadrons and Convoys.-Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the Government of any nation with respect to additional station and signal lights for two or more ships of war, or for ships sailing under convoy. Art. 27. Signals of Distress.-When a ship is in distress and requires assistance from other ships or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately; that is to say, In the daytime 1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 2. The international Code Signal of distress indicated by N C. 3. The distant signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. At night 1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 2. Flames on the ship (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, &c.). 3. Rockets or shells, throwing stars of any colour or description, fired one at a time, at short intervals. The result of Articles 3 and 6 is that When both the red and green lights are seen right ahead, another vessel must be approaching in an exactly opposite direction, thus A B If the red light only is seen, then either a vessel is approaching on the port bow, thus— A or is crossing in some direction to port, thus A B If the green light only is seen, then either a vessel is approaching on the starboard bow, thus A B or else a vessel is crossing in some direction to starboard, thus— D A And if, in any of the above cases, a white light is also seen above the coloured lights, then the vessel must be a steamer. COLLISION DIAGRAM, ILLUSTRATING THE STEERING AND SAILING RULES UNDER and Showing at a Glance, by Plans arranged in a Tabular Form, the only Positions in which it is possible for showing also the Course to be taken by each Ship under those Rules to avoid Collision. N.B.-The Wind is, in each case, supposed to be blowing from the top of the Sheet, as shown by the Arrows. 2. The Here the ships A and B are meet- 3. B Wind. As both ships have the wind on the must keep out of the way (Art. 14d). As B has the wind aft she must port side, A the ship to windward keep out of the way (Art. 14e). |