Page 22 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

PART A - GENERAL

RULE 1
Application
(a) These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and
in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing
vessels.
(b) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of
special rules made by an appropriate authority for road-
steads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways con-
nected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels.
Such special rules shall conform as closely as possible to
these Rules.
(c) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of
any special rules made by the Government of any State with
respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whis-
tle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under con-
voy, or with respect to additional station or signal lights, or
shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These
additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals
shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken
for any light, shape or signal authorized elsewhere under
these Rules.

(d) Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the
Organization for the purpose of these Rules.
(e) Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined
that a vessel of special construction or purpose cannot com-
ply fully with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect
to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or
shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of
sound-signalling appliances, such vessel shall comply with
such other provisions in regard to the number, position, range
or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the dispo-
sition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as

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