Page 87 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

the tide against her to ease her engines and to wait under the point until the
other vessel has passed it. There is, so far as appears from the present case,
no such positive Rule printed and circulated with regard to the navigation of
this Belgian river; but the pilots agree that the practice of navigation is really
the same as that prescribed in the Rules for the navigation of the Thames.
The vessel having the tide against her is to wait until the vessel coming in
the opposite direction has cleared her at the bend. It is quite certain that the
Trevethick disregarded that practice, and I have no hesitation in saying that
she was to blame for so doing. Nay, more; if there had been no such prac-
tice in the River Scheldt, both I and the Trinity Brethren are of opinion that
it was bad navigation for the vessel with the tide against her to proceed as
she did under the circumstances. (Mr Justice Butt, 1890)

(g) Anchoring in a narrow channel
The requirement to avoid anchoring in a narrow channel, if the
circumstances of the case admit, is new to the 1972 Rules. A vessel
anchored in a narrow channel is likely to impede the safe passage of
other vessels. Thick fog may not be considered justification for
anchoring in a channel or fairway as it is common practice for many
vessels to proceed with the assistance of radar. A vessel which finds
it necessary to anchor in a narrow channel should endeavour to do so
in a position where she will not obstruct the flow of traffic.

RULE 10

Traffic Separation Schemes
(a) This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes adopted
by the Organization and does not relieve any vessel of her
obligation under any other rule.
(b) A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:
(i) proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general
direction of traffic flow for that lane;
(ii) so far as practicable keep clear of a traffic separation
line or separation zone;

(iii) normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of
the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side
shall do so at as small an angle to the general direction
of traffic flow as practicable.

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