Regulation 18 - Mutual liability of ships
With the exception of cases seen in Rules 9, 10 and 13 ( to read here ), a power-driven vessel must deviate from the course:
A power-driven vessel under way shall deviate from the course:
- of a ship that is not in control of its operation;
- of a ship with restricted manoeuvring capabilities;
- of a vessel fishing;
- of a sailboat.
A sailing ship under way shall deviate from the course:
- of a ship that is not in control of its operation;
- of a ship with restricted manoeuvring capabilities;
- of a vessel fishing.
A vessel fishing and en route shall, as far as possible, depart from the course:
- of a ship that is not in control of its operation;
- of a vessel with restricted manoeuvring capabilities.
Every ship other than a ship which is not master of its manoeuvre or a ship with restricted manoeuvring capacity shall, if circumstances permit, avoid obstructing the free passage of a ship disabled by its draught, which shows the signals provided for in regulation 28: three red lights superimposed on the most visible place and visible over the whole horizon or a cylindrical mark.
Regulation 19: Conduct of ships in reduced visibility
This rule applies to vessels which are out of sight of each other and operating in or near areas of reduced visibility.
Every ship must respect a speed of safety adapted to the circumstances and the conditions of reduced visibility. Power-driven vessels must be ready for immediate manoeuvring. A vessel that detects the presence of another vessel on radar must determine if there is a very close risk of collision. If this is the case it must take all measures to avoid this situation and if it must change course, it must avoid, if possible:
- a course alteration to port in the case of a vessel forward of the beam, unless the vessel is being overtaken;
- a course alteration towards a vessel coming abeam or aft of the beam.
Except where it has been established that there is no risk of collision, any ship which hears, in a direction which appears to be forward of the beam, another ship's fog signal, or which cannot avoid a very close situation with another ship situated forward of the beam, shall reduce its speed to the minimum necessary to maintain its heading. He must, if necessary, break his course and, in all circumstances, sail with extreme caution until the risk of collision has passed.
