PART A - GENERAL

Rule 1

Application

(a) These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith

navigable by seagoing vessels.

(b) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate

authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas

and navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall conform as closely as possible to

these Rules.

(c) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the

Government of any State with respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle

signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to additional station

or signal lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These additional station

or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be

mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorised elsewhere under these Rules.

(d) Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules.

(e) Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of any special

construction or purpose cannot comply with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to

the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and

characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, such vessel shall comply with such other

provisions in regard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well

as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as her Government shall

have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect of that vessel.

Rule 2

Responsibility

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the

consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules 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.

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation

and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved,

which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

4

Rule 3

General definitions

For the purpose of these Rules, except where the context otherwise requires:

(a) The word “vessel” includes every description of water craft, including non-displacement craft,

WIG craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

(b) The term “power-driven vessel” means any vessel propelled by machinery.

(c) The term “sailing vessel” means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if

fitted, is not being used.

(d) The term “vessel engaged in fishing” means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other

fishing apparatus which restrict manoeuvrability, but does not include a vessel fishing with

trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict manoeuvrability.

(e) The word “seaplane” includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water.

(f) The term “vessel not under command” means a vessel which through some exceptional

circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep

out of the way of another vessel.

(g) The term “vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre” means a vessel which from the nature of

her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore

unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The term “vessels restricted in their ability to

manoeuvre” shall include but not be limited to:

(i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable

or pipeline;

(ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;

(iii) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo

while underway;

(iv) a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;

(v) a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;

(vi) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and

her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

(h) The term “vessel constrained by her draught” means a power-driven vessel which, because of her

draught in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water, is severely restricted in

her ability to deviate from the course she is following.

(i) The word “underway” means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

(j) The words “length” and “breadth” of a vessel mean her length overall and greatest breadth.

(k) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from

the other.

5

(l) The term “restricted visibility” means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist,

falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.

(m) The term “Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft” means a multimodal craft which, in its main operational

mode, flies in close proximity to the surface by utilizing surface-effect action.