Page 135 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

circumstances of the case admit, avoid impeding the safe
passage of a vessel constrained by her draught, exhibiting
the signals in Rule 28.
(ii) A vessel constrained by her draught shall navigate with
particular caution having full regard to her special
condition.
(e) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all
vessels and avoid impeding their navigation. In circumstances,
however, where risk of collision exists, she shall comply with
the Rules of this Part.
(f) (i) A WIG craft when taking-off, landing and in flight near
the surface shall keep well clear of all other vessels and
avoid impeding their navigation;
(ii) a WIG craft operating on the water surface shall comply
with the Rules of this Part as a power-driven vessel.

COMMENT:
Rules 4(f), 20(a), 20(c) and the first sentence of Rule 26 of the 1960
Rules, which allocated stated or implied privilege to certain cat-
egories of vessels, have all been incorporated in this new Rule. It was
considered preferable to specify in one Rule the degree of respon-
sibility of each type, relative to the others, in order of their ability to
take avoiding action.
Except where Rules 9, 10 and 13 otherwise require
Sailing vessels, vessels of less than 20 metres in length and vessels
engaged in fishing must comply with Rules 9(b) and 9(c), respect-
ively, when in a narrow channel, and with Rules lO(j) and 1O(i),
respectively, when in a traffic lane. A vessel about to cross a narrow
channel or fairway must comply with Rule 9(d). However, the above
Rules are mainly concerned with avoiding the development of risk of
collision. A power-driven vessel following a traffic lane, or proceed-
ing along a narrow channel to which she is restricted for safe navi-
gation, is not relieved of her obligation to comply with Rule 18(a)
when risk of collision exists (see page 64).
Any vessel which is overtaking any other vessel is required to keep
out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. Rule 13 overrides Rule 18.
A vessel which cannot easily alter her course should normally be
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