Page 109 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

RULE 13
Overtaking
(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules of Part B,
Sections I and 11, any vessel overtaking any other shall keep
out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

(b) A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up
with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees
abaft her beam, that is, in such a position with reference to the
vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see
only the sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.
(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking
another, she shall assume that this is the case and act
accordingly.
(d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two
vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel
within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty
of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally
past and clear.

COMMENT:
This Rule is very similar to Rule 24 of the 1960 Regulations.
Paragraph (a) was amended in 1981, the words ‘of this section’ in the
first line being replaced by the words ‘of Part B Sections I and 11’.
The amendment was made to make it clear that a vessel proceed-
ing along a narrow channel or traffic lane is expected to keep out of
the way of any vessel she is overtaking, including a sailing vessel, a
small power-driven vessel and a vessel engaged in fishing. Rule 13
takes precedence over Rules 12 and 18 so that a sailing vessel over-
taking another sailing vessel must keep out of the way, irrespective
of wind direction, and a vessel from any of the categories listed in
Rule 18 must keep out of the way of any vessel which she is over-
taking. Under the 1960 Regulations there was some doubt as to
whether a vessel not under command or a vessel which is now con-
sidered to be ‘restricted in her ability to maneuvre’ was required to
keep clear of a vessel which she was overtaking.
A vessel which is overtaking another vessel will usually have little
difficulty in keeping out of the way, by either helm action or engine
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