Expanded Explanation for Rule 19 - Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
Rule 19 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) deals with the conduct of vessels navigating in or near areas of restricted visibility. This rule is crucial as visibility restrictions pose significant risks for collisions.
Key Points of Rule 19
- Application: Rule 19 applies to vessels navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility. This could include fog, heavy rain, snow, or any other condition that limits visibility.
- Safe Speed: All vessels must proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. This means reducing speed to allow more time to react to potential hazards.
- Example: A cargo ship sailing through dense fog reduces speed significantly to ensure there is ample time to detect and respond to other vessels or obstacles.
- Proper Lookout: Vessels must maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing, as well as by all available means, such as radar, to detect the presence of other vessels or dangers in sufficient time.
- Example: A fishing vessel employs both visual lookout and radar to navigate through a snowstorm, ensuring that potential hazards are detected despite the limited visibility.
- Sound Signals: Vessels must use appropriate sound signals to indicate their presence and maneuvering actions, such as prolonged blasts on the whistle.
- Example: A tanker in restricted visibility sounds one prolonged blast every two minutes to signal its position and movement to nearby vessels.
- Operational Readiness: Engines and other critical systems must be ready for immediate action, enabling quick maneuvers to avoid collisions if necessary.
- Example: A passenger ferry navigating in heavy rain maintains its engines at readiness to alter course or stop promptly if an obstacle is detected.
- Radar and ARPA: If a vessel has radar equipment, it should use it to obtain early warning of risk of collision and take appropriate action. When radar detects a vessel or object, its position, course, and speed should be closely monitored.
- Example: A containership uses radar to identify and track the movements of a nearby vessel in fog, adjusting its own course to maintain a safe distance.
- Avoid Altering Course to Port: If a vessel detects another by radar alone, it must avoid altering course to port for a vessel forward of the beam unless avoiding a close quarters situation.
- Example: A cargo ship detects another vessel on its starboard side by radar and decides to alter course to starboard to avoid a close-quarters situation, adhering to Rule 19.
- Avoid Altering Course Towards a Vessel Abeam or Abaft the Beam: Vessels must avoid altering course towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam to prevent close quarters situations.
- Example: A tugboat navigating through restricted visibility detects another vessel on its port quarter and decides not to alter course towards it, thus avoiding a potential collision.
Conclusion
Adhering to Rule 19 is essential for safe navigation in restricted visibility. By maintaining a proper lookout, reducing speed, using radar, and following sound signaling protocols, vessels can significantly reduce the risk of collisions.