STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING DEC 2013 - SAFE NAVIGATION | Page 45

Authorised User (see Terms and Conditions): Member of North of England P&I Association

Rule 8: Action to avoid collision
(e) If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a
vessel shall slacken her speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing
her means of propulsion.

(a) Any action taken to avoid collision shall be taken in accordance with the
Rules of this Part and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be
positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of
good seamanship.

(f) (i)  vessel which, by any of these Rules, is required not to impede the
A
passage or safe passage of another vessel shall, when required by the
circumstances of the case, take early action to allow sufficient searoom for the safe passage of the other vessel.

(b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall, if the
circumstances of the case admit, be large enough to be readily apparent
to another vessel observing visually or by radar; a succession of small
alterations of course and/or speed should be avoided.

(ii)  vessel required not to impede the passage or safe passage of
A
another vessel is not relieved of this obligation if approaching the other
vessel so as to involve risk of collision and shall, when taking action,
have full regard to the action which may be required by the Rules of
this Part.

(iii)  vessel the passage of which is not to be impeded remains fully
A
obliged to comply with the Rules of this Part when the two vessels are
approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision.

(c) If there is sufficient sea-room, alteration of course alone may be the most
effective action to avoid a close-quarters situation provided that it is made
in good time, is substantial and does not result in another close-quarters
situation.
(d) Action taken to avoid collision with another vessel shall be such as to
result in passing at a safe distance. The effectiveness of the action shall be
carefully checked until the other vessel is finally past and clear.

DO SOMETHING AND DO IT EARLY

what you are doing.
Remember to make appropriate sound and light signals.
You should confirm your action to avoid collision by monitoring the change
in CPA. Keep taking compass bearings and checking the situation until the
risk of collision is over. And remember your engine – if your ability to alter
course is constrained then slow down or stop.

As soon as you identify a risk of collision, you must identify the correct action
to avoid collision to ensure the vessels will pass at a ‘safe distance’. You should
then take that action to avoid collision as soon as it is appropriate to do so.
Action to avoid collision should always be:
• positive – make a big alteration of course and/or speed
• made in good time – which means early
• seamanlike – do not make the situation worse for any other ship in the
vicinity, assess what they may have to do
• easily seen by the other ship(s) – avoid a series of small alterations of
course and/or speed.

Giving way and not impeding
• If the COLREGs require you ‘not to impede’ or ‘give-way’ to another vessel, then
you must take very early action to make sure risk of collision does not develop.
• If you are the ‘not to be impeded’ or stand-on vessel, then you must always be
prepared for the give-way vessel not to take the correct action. If a risk of collision
develops, you will have to act – remember the caution in Rule 2 on responsibilities
and your continuing responsibilities in Rule 17 on action by the stand-on vessel.

Remember, a substantial alteration made early is better than a very large
alteration made late. The closer you are to the other vessel the greater the
risk of collision and the more you will have to do to pass at a safe distance.
Small alterations of course and speed are also dangerous; they do not often
solve the problem and they do not give the other vessel a clear indication of

SUMMARY
Always do something positive and timely to avoid a collision.

13