Page 118 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

starboard to avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel, with respect
to her course made good. The vessel which sees the other ahead
should initially maintain course and speed, but may take action if the
give-way vessel fails to keep clear at an early stage. A substantial
alteration of course to starboard would again be the best form of
avoiding action.
In the case of British Engineer-Kurunun, 1945, the British
Engineer was blamed for altering course to port for a green light
approximately ahead. The Kurunun dtered course to starboard. Both
vessels were being affected by a strong tide setting across the
approaches to Belfast Lough.
Paragraph (c) makes it clear that when a vessel is in doubt as to
whether a meeting or crossing situation exists, or is in doubt as to
whether the approaching ship is an ordinary power-driven vessel or a
hampered vessel, she should assume that Rule 14 applies and alter
course to starboard. The fact that a stand-on vessel is permitted to take
action before getting so close that collision cannot be avoided by the
give-way vessel alone, provided that, if power-driven, she does not turn
to port for a vessel crossing from her own port side, makes it less essen-
tial to draw a clear distinction between meeting and crossing situations.
Whether power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal courses
or crossing at a fine angle it is important that neither vessel should
alter course to port. If it is thought necessary to increase the distance
of passing starboard to starboard this implies that there is risk of col-
lision. Several collisions have been caused as a result of one vessel
altering course to port to increase the passing distance and the other
vessel turning to starboard.

RULE 15
Crossing Situation

When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve
risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own star-
board side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circum-
stances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.
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