The steamer ahead shall in no case attempt to cross the bow or crowd upon the course of the overtaking steamer. Crossing Steam Vessels § 332.8 When two steamers are approaching each other at right angles or obliquely so as to involve risk of collision, other than when one steamer is overtaking another, the steamer which has the other on her own port side shall hold her course and speed; and the steamer which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other by directing her course to starboard so as to cross the stern of the other steamer, or, if necessary to do so, slacken her speed or stop or reverse. The steamer having the other on her own port bow shall blow one blast of her whistle as a signal of her intention to cross the bow of the other, holding her course and speed, which signal shall be promptly answered by the other steamer by one short blast of her whistle as a signal of her intention to direct her course to starboard so as to cross the stern of the other steamer or otherwise keep clear. If from any cause whatever the conditions covered by this situation are such as to prevent immediate compliance with each other's signals, the misunderstanding or objection shall be at once made apparent by blowing the alarm signal, and both steamers shall be stopped, and backed if necessary, until signals for passing with safety are made and understood. § 332.9 Passing Signals to be Used When Approach is Within Half a Mile The passing signals, by the blowing of the whistle, shall be given and answered by pilots, in compliance with the rules in this part, when approaching each other; and, wherever possible, the signals shall be given and answered before the steamers have arrived at a distance of half a mile of each other. § 332.10 NOTE.-On Western Rivers, as on the Great Lakes, passing whistles are not limited to clear weather, and are to be used in thick weather as well. Great care, however, must be taken to blow the proper signal to a vessel which has not yet come into view. Special Whistle for Steamer Passing Dredge or Pipe Line (a) General.-Vessels intending to pass dredges or other types of floating plant working in navigable channels, when within a reasonable distance. therefrom and not in any case over a mile, shall indicate such intention by blowing the passing signal prescribed in the local pilot rules for vessels under way, which shall be answered in the usual manner from said plant if the channel is clear and the approaching vessel may pass on the course indicated; otherwise the floating plant shall sound the alarm or danger signal and the approaching vessel shall slow down or stop and await further signal from the plant. When the pipe line from a dredge crosses the channel in such a way that an approaching vessel, owing to excessive draft or for other reasons, cannot pass around the pipe line or dredge, a signal shall be given from the vessel by sounding 4 blasts of the whistle, which shall be answered by a like signal from the dredge. The pipe line shall then be opened for the passage of the vessel as soon as practicable; when the line is open ready for passage, the dredge shall so indicate by sounding the usual passing signal, and the approaching vessel shall promptly pass the dredge. (b) Special passing signals applicable to the Mississippi River and its tributaries.-Vessels intending to pass dredges or other types of floating plant working in navigable channels, when within a reasonable distance therefrom and not in any case over a mile, shall indicate such intention by one long blast of the whistle and shall be directed to the proper side for passage by the sounding, by the dredge or other floating plant, of the signal prescribed in the local pilot rules for vessels under way and approaching each other from opposite directions, which shall be answered in the usual manner by the approaching vessel. If the channel is not clear, the floating plant shall sound the alarm or danger signal and the approaching vessel shall slow down or stop and await further signal from the plant. When the pipe line from a dredge crosses the channel in such a way that an approaching vessel cannot safely pass around the pipe line or dredge, there shall immediately be sounded from the dredge or floating plant the alarm or danger signal and the approaching vessel shall slow down or stop and await further signal from the plant. The pipe line shall then be opened and the channel cleared as soon as practicable; when the channel is clear for passage the dredge or plant shall so indicate by sounding the usual passing signal as before prescribed. The approaching vessel shall answer with a corresponding signal and promptly pass. War Dept. Regulations No. 8 When any pipe line or swinging dredge shall have given an approaching steam vessel or tow the signal that the channel is clear, the dredge shall straighten out within the cut for the passage of said steam vessel or tow. The area ahead of a steam vessel crossing from your right is forbidden territory. PART III THE MEETING SITUATION For the meaning of whistle signals in this situation, see Part 2. NOTE.-In open waters meeting steam vessels are those approaching each other on opposite course, or on courses within a point or two of opposite. In winding rivers, meeting steamers may first sight each other on courses at right angles, but are nevertheless considered as under the meeting rule if one is bound up the channel and the other down, so that eventually they will meet on substantially opposite courses. Since one hour equals 60 minutes and a nautical mile equals 6080.27 feet, a vessel's speed in knots is roughly her speed in hundreds of feet per minute. Thus, a speed of 15 knots is practically a speed of 1500 feet per minute, or 25 feet per second. This is a very handy rule in calculating rates of approach. It should be remembered that the rate of approach of two steam vessels meeting is always the sum of their two speeds. Time is short, and preventive action must be taken early to avoid disaster. There are really five meeting situations for steam vessels to consider: (1) Meeting exactly head on; (2) meeting a little port to port, but not enough for safe clearance; (3) meeting with clearance port to port which is ample without a change of course; (4) meeting a little starboard to starboard, but not enough for safe clearance; (5) meeting with clearance starboard to starboard which is ample without a change of course. On the high seas and in inland waters alike the rules require steam vessels to pass port to port in all of these cases except the last. Only in the fifth case, with clearance already sufficient for safety on that side is it permissible to pass starboard to starboard. (See illustrations) It is important always to take bearings of an approaching vessel to check eye judgment. Eye judgment alone is not good enough. If you can see the other vessel at all you can see her well enough to take bearings on her. Make up your mind long before the approaching vessel is near enough for danger on which side you will pass, signal accordingly, and make an ample change of course to back up your signal. In wide open waters it is much better to turn 20° than 2°. Observance of this rule will prevent many head-on collisions. In narrow channels where such action is not possible prompt action should be taken to get as far over to the proper side of the channel as safety permits. There is no obligation to hold course and speed in a meeting situation. On the other hand there is definite requirement to change course and to reduce speed whenever safety demands it. Whether by day, when a vessel ahead is plainly visible, or by night, when her lights are seen or, under black-out conditions, she is first detected as a smudge in the gloom ahead, the safest action the instant doubt arises is to stop the engines. This will not make the vessel unmaneuverable. She will still steer. But it will reduce headway, put her in the best shape for emergency full astern and lessen the force of the impact if collision cannot be avoided. Remember: A 5,000 horsepower vessel at 10 knots can strike a 50,000 horsepower blow. Nearly all meeting collisions occur because one of the approaching steam vessels in the first four meeting situations fails to turn to the right. LIGHTS FOR STEAM VESSELS UNDER WAY Approaching steamship at night, head-on situation, No. 1. (On the high seas after range light may be missing, though most steam vessels carry it). Head-on situation No. 2. (On the high seas after range light may be missing, though most steam vessels carry it.) Head-on situation No. 3. (On the high seas after range light may be missing, though most steam vessels carry it). LIGHTS FOR STEAM VESSELS UNDER WAY Head-on situation No. 4. (On the high seas after range light may be missing, though most steam vessels carry it.) Head-on situation No. 5. (On the high seas after range light may be missing, though most steam vessels carry it.) |