Page 117 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

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The phrase ‘meeting end on or nearly end on’ is replaced by
‘meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses’ which was
considered to be more explanatory. The Rule can now apply to cases
in which each vessel sees the masts, or masthead lights, of the other
nearly in line and nearly ahead but the vessels appear likely to pass
dangerously close to each other starboard to starboard, or port to
port. The requirement that every vessel that has to keep out of the
way should avoid crossing ahead no longer applies so vessels meet-
ing starboard to starboard so as to involve risk of collision should
make an early and substantial alteration to starboard to achieve a port
to port passing. However, Rule 14 is apparently not intended to apply
to cases in which, from a vessel which is ahead or nearly ahead, one
sidelight can be seen, but the other is obscured.
In order to avoid possible dark lanes immediately ahead of a ship
the sidelights are screened so as to show approximately 2” across the
bow (see pages 143-4). The effect of yawing must also be taken into
account; this will vary with the steering arrangements and steering
qualities of the ship.
The wording of the Rule makes it clear that it is the direction of the
ship’s head, and not the course made good, which must be used to
determine whether vessels are meeting end on or crossing. This may
be important in conditions of strong wind or tide, where one vessel is
drifting more rapidly than another, so that one vessel may see another
end on fine on the bow, and the bearing may remain constant.
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If one vessel sees the other end on the starboard bow, as shown in
the figure, both vessels may be tempted to alter course to port. Such
action would not be in accordance with the general principles of the
Rules. The vessel with the other on her own starboard side is required
to keep out of the way by Rule 15 and should preferably alter course to
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