COLREGS 10: Section II overview
Conduct of vessels in sight of one another and Rule 11
Rule 11 brings us to the start of Section II of the steering and sailing rules. Where the rules in Section I apply in any conditions of visibility, the rules in Section II only apply when we can see the other vessel.
Relevant documents and M-notices: MSN 1781
Rule 11 - Application
Rules in this Section apply to vessels in sight of one another.
In good visibility, bad visibility, good weather, bad weather, at night and during the day; if you can see the other vessel, Rules 11-18 apply. From Rule 3 (k):
Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.
Rules 12-18
Rules 12-18 cover a huge range of possible situations. Some rules will have whole articles to themselves, while others will be covered several to the one article. For now, let’s look at how they fit together.
12 - Two sailing vessels approaching one another
13 - Any vessel overtaking another
14 - Head-on situations between two power-driven vessels
15 - Crossing situations between two power-driven vessels
16 - Action by give-way vessel
17 - Action by stand-on vessel
18 - Responsibilities between vessels
Rule 12 describes two sailing vessels meeting one another and is a bit of an odd one, as it relies on wind direction rather than aspect. We don’t need to worry too much about this rule though we should know it, as it can help us predict sailing vessel behaviour.
Rule 13 is what I think of as a ‘powerful’ rule. It ‘overrides’ a number of other rules (large parts of 9, 10 and 18).
Rules 14 and 15 only apply to two power-driven vessels. If you are a PDV and the PDV that was on your starboard side becomes a vessel Not Under Command, you are still the give-way vessel, but now under Rule 18 rather than Rule 15. I cannot stress this enough; it is not enough in your exam to know what action to take, you have to know under which rule you are taking that action.
Rules 16 and 17 are hugely important, in that they lay out clear obligations and actions for give-way and stand-on vessels. Understanding these two rules, and the sequence of actions the stand-on vessel should take in the event that a give-way vessel is not taking sufficient action, is vital to applying the rules.
Rule 18 covers encounters between all the different statuses of vessels (other than two power driven vessels): vessels engaged in fishing, sailing vessels, vessels not under command etc. There is a hierarchy of who stands on and who gives way.
MCAQs
When do the rules in Section II apply?
Would the rules in Section II apply in restricted visibility, when you can see the stern of a vessel you are about to overtake?
What rules are contained in Section II?
The visibility is about 3 miles. There are two vessels on your RADAR screen. One of them you can see, the other you cannot. Do the rules from Section II apply to both vessels, or only the one that you can see?
Does Section II apply at night, if a vessel in the vicinity is blacked out?