Page 123 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

at the end of the last century to apply to sailing vessels and low pow-
ered steam vessels. The differences in speed and manceuvrability
between vessels at present in service are so large that it is no longer
realistic to maintain this restriction in the case of an overtaking ship
or for crossing situations involving hampered vessels.
The provisions of Rule 8 concerning action to avoid collision
apply in any condition of visibility and must therefore be complied
with by vessels in visual sight of one another. Any alteration of
course or speed should be made in ample time and be large enough
to be readily apparent to another vessel, action shall be such as to
result in passing at a safe distance, the effectiveness of avoiding
action must be checked and a give-way vessel should, if necessary,
slacken her speed or take all way off.

RULE 17
Action by Stand-on Vessel
(a) (i) Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the
other shall keep her course and speed.
(ii) The latter vessel may however take action to avoid colli-
sion by her manaeuvre alone, as soon as it becomes
apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of
the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance
with these Rules.
(b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course
and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be
avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall
take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.
(c) A power-driven vessel which takes action in a crossing situa-
tion in accordance with sub-paragraph (a)@) of this Rule to
avoid collision with another power-driven vessel shall, if the
circumstances of the case admit, not alter course to port for
a vessel on her own port side.
(d) This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obliga-
tion to keep out of the way.

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