STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING DEC 2013 - SAFE NAVIGATION | Page 57

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

Rule 17: Action by stand-on vessel
(a) (i) Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed.

(ii)  he latter vessel may however take action to avoid collision by her manoeuvre alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out
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of the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance with these Rules.
(b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel
alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.

IS IT GIVING WAY?

SUMMARY

Rule 17 is one of the harder rules to understand and to follow. If you are the
‘stand-on vessel’ then you cannot relax.
Rule 17 has three stages and you must identify and assess each of them:

When approaching a give-way ship, maintain course and speed but
always be prepared to take action to avoid a collision.

• Rule 17 (a) (i): when you are the ‘stand-on vessel’, you must keep your
course and speed. You must not do anything unexpected.
• Rule 17 (a) (ii): ‘as soon as it becomes apparent’ that the give-way vessel is
not taking appropriate action, then you may take your own action to avoid
a collision.
• Rule 17 (b): when a collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel
alone, then you must take the best action you can to avoid colliding. Your
action under Rule 17(b) must still be in time to avoid a collision so you
must not leave it too late
But do not go to port in a crossing situation – if the other ship goes to
starboard, as it should, then both ships will turn towards each other.
Do not forget the ‘wake up’ signal under Rule 34(d) on manoeuvring and
warning signals. Blow your horn and flash your lights at the other vessel but
think twice before calling it on VHF, because that always takes valuable time
during which the risk of collision will increase.

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