Page 85 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

Canberra Star-City of Lyons
The rule of good seamanship for a vessel entering a main channel is that she
should do so with caution and not hamper traffic already navigating in it.
Vessels already in it, as well as those about to enter it, should behave
reasonably. It does not appear to me that the vessel in the channel has a com-
plete right of way, and she must not hog the river regardless of the reasonable
aspirations of other vessels. (Mr Justice Hewson, 1962)

Burton-Prince Leopold de Belgique
There is no Rule, I understand, which applies to this particular point, and
having discussed the matter with the Elder Brethren, as far as I can under-
stand, vessels must deal with each other on the footing of good seamanship,
of course complying, as far as possible, with the necessity of keeping on
their starboard hand of the channel. It results from that, that if one vessel
comes to the point of intersection reasonably in advance of the other, she
must keep on, and the other must wait till she has passed. If both approach
the spot at about the same time, then they must act reasonably, and it would
be very reasonable that the one which has the tide against her should wait
while the other passed. (Sir Gore11 Barnes, 1908)
In the above case the two vessels were approaching on slightly crossing
courses in the entrance channel at Swansea.

(e) Overtaking in a narrow channel
This paragraph was introduced for the first time in the 1972 Rules.
The need for such a provision became increasingly apparent with the
tendency of large vessels to proceed along a fairway or channel at
high water and to overtake other vessels because of the limited time
available. In such cases there is often insufficient room for overtak-
ing to take place unless the vessel to be overtaken takes appropriate
action to permit safe passing.
The procedure to be adopted when overtaking can only take place
by mutual agreement is described in Rule 9(e)(i). On hearing a sig-
nal from the overtaking vessel indicating which side she intends to
pass the vessel about to be overtaken should indicate agreement if it
is safe to overtake and take such action as may be necessary to permit
safe passing. It would be good seamanship to move away, as far as is
safe and practicable, from the side of the fairway in which the
overtaking vessel intends to pass, to allow a greater passing distance,
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