High
Speed Ferries
During
the Oral Exam the captain asked the candidate the following
question;
You're
in a Power-driven vessel and on your port side is a High Speed
Ferry, what are you going to do?
The
Candidate answered, I'll take a series of compass, radar and
visual bearing to see if the risk of collision exists and stand-on
with extreme caution.
The
Captain said the bearings are steady and the distance is 5 miles,
what are you going to do?
The
candidate said; I would normally stand-on with caution for slower
moving vessels, but this vessel is coming at high speeds, so
I'll sound 1 short blast on the ships whistle and also flash
my masthead light once and make a very large alteration to stardboard
moving away from this vessel
so
the golden Rule still stands- If your the stand-on vessel
and the give-way vessel stand-on, you make a very large alteration
away from the give-way vessel (no matter what side he is on)
Also
If outside a close quarter situation, the stand-on vessel
MAY alter course away from the give-way vessel
If inside a close quarter situation the stand-on vessel SHALL
alter course away from the give-way vessel.
(Rule of thumb - Class a close quarter situation in open sea
- 4 miles)
Rule
17
(a)
(i) Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way of the
other shall keep her course and speed.
(ii)
The latter vessel may however take action to avoid collision
by her manoeuvre alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her
that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking
appropriate action in compliance with these Rules.
(b)
When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course
and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided
by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such
action as will best aid to avoid collision.
(c)
A power-driven vessel which takes action in a crossing situation
in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) (ii) of the Rule to avoid
collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, not
alter course to port for a vessel on her own port side.
(d)
This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligation
to keep out of the way. |
