Handbook of the Nautical Rules of the Road Handbook of the Nautical Rules of the Road THIRD (ON-LINE) EDITION Chris Llana and George Wisneskey Welcome to the new on-line Handbook of the Nautical Rules of the Road. This publication first went into print in 1986; a second edition was published in 1991. The Naval Institute Press for years had two competing navigation rules books in print: this one and Farwell's. In the interest of their bottom line, they have elected to retain only one (Farwell's). As a result, we the authors have regained full rights to the the Handbook and are making it available to mariners everywhere for free. We are now also able to incorporate updates and enhancements that the publisher was unwilling to undertake. We would like to thank the thousands of mariners who since 1986 bought, used, and recommended the Handbook of the Nautical Rules of the Road. We hope you continue to get good use of this on-line edition. Initially this web-based third edition will include only text, updated to incorporate rule changes through 1998. As time and resources allow, we will further update our text to reflect the current state of the rules, and begin to add illustrations. At some point we may add new sections (for example, analyses of significant historical collisions). The organization of this web site will initially follow that of the print editions. The table of contents page will contain links to separate web pages for each rule. It has been necessary to re-type everything to put it on the web, and this work is not yet done. Please be patient while we finish entering the rest. We are getting no revenue from this site (although advertisers are welcome) and have other demands on our time. After all the text has been entered, we will insert internal links to sections of referenced related rules. Later there will be links from the discussion to relevant illustrations. Text will be black on a white background to facilitate printing. Readers may print any portion of this site for their own personal use, without prior permission. No commercial use of any original material in this web site may be made without express permission from the authors. We hope you get some benefit from this. May your days see fair weather and your fine vessels never go bump in the night! file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/index.html[21-11-2009 14:15:11] Handbook of the Nautical Rules of the Road Chris Llana & George Wisneskey October 30, 2006 UPDATE: April 8, 2008 Traffic on the site has been light so I have been working on higher priority needs. I have just added Rule 38 (finally) and am starting on Annex I. I have used new improved software to scan and scale the original illustrations for Rules 10 and 12, and replaced the bad Rule 34 illustration. I've also scanned about 20 illustrations for Annex I, and intend to add navigation light illustrations after finishing keying in the rest of the text (which is quite a bit). Chris Llana UPDATE: July 5, 2008 I have posted the first half of the very lengthy Annex I section. UPDATE: August 6, 2008 I have added a page describing the 2001 amendments to the International Rules. These amendments concern wing-in-ground aircraft -- usually seaplanes that cruise just above the water to gain extra lift (meaning low enough to collide with vessels). UPDATE: August 13, 2008 I have posted the second half of the Annex I discussion. Table of Contents About the Authors file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/index.html[21-11-2009 14:15:11] 2001 International Amendments Handbook of the Nautical Rules of the Road by Llana & Wisneskey Home - Table of Contents 2001 Amendments to the International Rules This on-line nav rules book is current through 1998. Amendments to the International Rules were enacted in 2001 and came into force in 2003. These amendments deal with WIG craft, or wing-in-ground craft which in my experience I believe are aircraft designed to fly so low over the water that their wing is in "ground-effect." In other words, the lift of the wing is increased because the higher air pressure under the wing is constrained by the water -- a bubble of pressure that pushes up. Conventional airplanes experience this phenomenon just as they settle down on the runway during landing. The aircraft seems to float just above the runway until speed bleeds off and the wheels then touch down. As a private pilot, I can tell you that beginning pilots landing long or too fast find this ground-effect somewhat disconcerting -- the plane refuses to put its wheels on the gound even as the end of the runway looms ever closer. Anyway, the advantage of this extra lift is greater carrying capacity with the same power. A plane can carry more stuff more efficiently. The downside is you have to fly close to the ground or water, and the air is more dense there so drag increases prohibitively as speed increases. So you would want to keep speed relatively low, compared to high-flying jets. But it's going to be a lot faster than other forms of ground transportation. Apparently someone has found a niche market for this type of craft, and so these amendments were enacted. I don't yet have a copy of these amendments, so I can't give them to you. The International Maritime Organization will sell you a copy (although the link did not work for me). The IMO described these amendments: The 2001 amendments; Adoption: 29 November 2001; Entry into force: 29 November 2003 "The amendments include new rules relating to Wing-in Ground (WIG) craft. The following are amended: General Definitions (Rule 3) - to provide the definition of wing-in-ground (WIG) craft; Action to avoid collision (Rule 8 (a)) - to make it clear that any action to avoid collision should be taken in accordance with the relevant rules in the COLREGs and to link Rule 8 with the other steering and sailing rules; Responsibilities between vessels (Rule 18) - to include a requirement that a WIG craft, when taking off, landing and in flight near the surface, shall keep clear of all other vessels and avoid impeding their navigation and also that a WIG craft operating on the water surface shall comply with the Rules as for a power-driven vessel; Power-driven vessels underway (Rule 23) - to include a requirement that file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/2001amendments.html[21-11-2009 14:15:13] 2001 International Amendments WIG craft shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph 23 (a) of the Rule, exhibit a high-intensity all-round flashing red light when taking off, landing and in-flight near the surface; Seaplanes (Rule 31) - to include a provision for WIG craft; Equipment for sound signals and sound signals in restricted visibility (Rules 33 and 35) - to cater for small vessels; Positioning and technical details of lights and shapes (Annex I) - amendments with respect to high-speed craft (relating to the vertical separation of masthead lights); and Technical details of sound signal appliances (Annex III) - amendments with respect to whistles and bell or gong to cater for small vessels. The chances of encountering one of these craft is remote for most everyone, but if you do run into (oops, poor word choice) . . . if you encounter an aircraft flying at high speed two meters above the water, you'll probably just hope that he sees you. Home Table of Contents file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/2001amendments.html[21-11-2009 14:15:13] Annex I (continued) Handbook of the Nautical Rules of the Road by Llana & Wisneskey Home - Table of Contents Annex I -- Positioning and Technical Details of Navigation Lights (continued) This is the continuation of Annex I. INTERNATIONAL INLAND 5. Screens for sidelights § 84.09 Screens The sidelights of vessels 20 meters or (a) The sidelights of vessels 20 meters or more in length shall be fitted with more in length shall be fitted with mat inboard screens painted matt black, and black inboard screens and meet the meeting the requirements of Section 9 of requirements of § 84.17. On vessels of this Annex. On vessels of less than 20 less than 20 meters in length, the meters in length the sidelights, if sidelights, if necessary to meet the necessary to meet the requirements of requirements of § 84.17, shall be fitted Section 9 of this Annex, shall be fitted with mat black inboard screens. With a with inboard matt black screens. With a combined lantern, using a single vertical combined lantern, using a single vertical filament and a very narrow division filament and a very narrow division between the green and red sections, between the green and red sections, external screens need not be fitted. external screens need not be fitted. The sidelights on vessels twenty meters or more long must be fitted with screens, which are used to keep the light from being seen across the bow (or, in other words, to help the sidelights meet the horizontal sector cut-off requirements of Annex I). In practice, some sidelights meet the cut-off requirements (see Section 9/§ 84.17) without screens, but screens must still be fitted. The length of the screens is not specified, so they may be very short if not needed to meet other requirements. Rule 21 permits vessels less than twenty meters long to combine their sidelights into one lantern using a single filament as the light source. Many of these lights are constructed with the green lens and the red lens butted together (often glued together to keep out moisture and prevent light leaks). Since a vertical filament will be parallel with the lens joint, the transition from green to red will be almost instant rather than gradual, and therefore a screen is not needed. Technology marches forward, even in the maritime industry, and with the inefficient incandescent lamp giving way to modern light sources such as LED, it is only a matter of time before this rule will have to be re-interpreted. INLAND (b)On power-driven vessels less than 12 meters in length, constructed after July 31, 1983, the masthead light, or the all- round light described in Rule 23(c) shall be screened to prevent direct illumination of the vessel forward of the file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/annexib.html[21-11-2009 14:15:14] Annex I (continued) operator's position. The Inland version of the section on screens also contains a provision for screening navigation lights to prevent them from shining down on the boat where the glare would impair the operator's night vision. INTERNATIONAL INLAND 6. Shapes § 84.11 Shapes (a) Shapes shall be black and of the (a) Shapes shall be black and of the following sizes: following sizes: (i) a ball shall have a diameter of not less (1) A ball shall have a diameter of not than 0.6 meter; less than 0.6 meter; (ii) a cone shall have a base diameter of (2) A cone shall have a base diameter of not less than 0.6 meter and a height not less than 0.6 meter and a height equal to its diameter; equal to its diameter; (iii) a cylinder shall have a diameter of at (3) A diamond shape shall consist of two least 0.6 meter and a height of twice its cones (as defined in Paragraph (a)(2) of diameter; this section) having a common base. (iv) a diamond shape shall consist of two (b) The vertical distance between shapes cones as defined in (ii) above having a shall be at least 1.5 meter. common base. (c) In a vessel of less than 20 meters in (b) The vertical distance between shapes length shapes of lesser dimensions but shall be at least 1.5 meter. commensurate with the size of the vessel file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/annexib.html[21-11-2009 14:15:14] Annex I (continued) may be used and the distance apart may (c) In a vessel of less than 20 meters in be correspondingly reduced. length shapes of lesser dimensions but commensurate with the size of the vessel may be used and the distance apart may be correspondingly reduced. The minimum distance between shapes displayed in a vertical line is one and a half meters. This is measured from the top of one shape to the bottom of the one above it. The size and spacing of shapes for small vessels may be less than specified in Annex I but not too much less. A vessel nineteen meters long would certainly not be justified in displaying shapes one-half normal size, although an eight meter vessel would. INTERNATIONAL INLAND 7. Color specification of lights § 84.13 Color specification of lights The chromaticity of all navigation lights (a) The chromaticity of all navigation shall conform to the following standards, lights shall conform to the following which lie within the boundaries of the standards, which lie within the file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/annexib.html[21-11-2009 14:15:14] Annex I (continued) area of the diagram specified for each boundaries of the area of the diagram color by the International Commission on specified for each color by the Illumination (CIE). International Commission on Illumination (CIE), in the "Colors of The boundaries of the area for each color Light Signals," which is incorporated by are given by indicating the corner reference. It is Publication CIE No. 2.2. coordinates, which are as follows: (TC-16), 1975, and is available from the Illumination Engineering Society, 345 (i) White: East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017. It is also available for inspection at the x 0.525 0.525 0.452 0.310 0.310 0.443 Office of the Federal Register, Room 8401, 1100 L Street N.W., Washington, y 0.382 0.440 0.440 0.348 0.283 0.382 DC 20408. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director (ii) Green: of the Federal Register. x 0.028 0.009 0.300 0.203 (b) The boundaries of the area for each color are given by indicating the corner y 0.385 0.723 0.511 0.356 coordinates, which are as follows: (iii) Red (1) White: x 0.680 0.660 0.735 0.721 x 0.525 0.525 0.452 0.310 0.310 0.443 y 0.320 0.320 0.265 0.259 y 0.382 0.440 0.440 0.348 0.283 0.382 (iv) Yellow (2) Green: x 0.612 0.618 0.575 0.575 x 0.028 0.009 0.300 0.203 y 0.382 0.382 0.425 0.406 y 0.385 0.723 0.511 0.356 (3) Red x 0.680 0.660 0.735 0.721 y 0.320 0.320 0.265 0.259 (4) Yellow x 0.612 0.618 0.575 0.575 y 0.382 0.382 0.425 0.406 This section of Annex I is for the manufacturers of navigation lights and their lenses. The chromaticity of navigation lights is also affected by the lamp used and by the voltage at which it is operated. The numbers given describe the exact shade and hue of green, yellow, red, and white light required. The color measurements are made using the lanp and voltage for which the navigation light is designed. INTERNATIONAL INLAND 8. Intensity of lights § 84.15 Intensity of lights (a) The minimum luminous intensity of (a) The minimum luminous intensity of lights shall be calculated by using the lights shall be calculated by using the file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/annexib.html[21-11-2009 14:15:14] Annex I (continued) following formula: following formula: (b) A selection of figures derived from the (b) A selection of figures derived from formula is given in the following table: the formula is given in Table 84.15(b): Table 84.15 (b) Note: The maximum luminous intensity of navigation lights should be limited to avoid undue glare. This shall not be achieved by a variable control of the luminous intensity. This section gives the minimum required light intensities (measured in candelas) corresponding to ranges of visibility at a standard atmospheric clearness. The required range of visibility for any particular navigation light is given in Rule 22. This section is another used by the manufacturer of navigation lights. A note at the end of the International version of this section cautions against lights that are so bright that they impair the night vision of the vessel's operator or lookout. Because this is a suggestion ("should") and not a requirement, it is not contained in the regulatory Inland Annex I. The International Rule proscription against a variable voltage control to vary light intensity is not contained in the Inland version because of a different philosophy: a device that would permit an increase in intensity in open water or when the air is not so clear, but which could not be manipulated to reduce the intensity below the file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/annexib.html[21-11-2009 14:15:14] Annex I (continued) minimum required, would be an advantage. INTERNATIONAL INLAND 9. Horizontal sectors § 84.17 Horizontal sectors (a)(i) In the forward direction, sidelights (a)(1) In the forward direction, sidelights as fitted on the vessel shall show the as fitted on the vessel shall show the minimum required intensities. The minimum required intensities. The intensities shall decrease to reach intensities shall decrease to reach practical cut-off between 1 degree and 3 practical cut-off between 1 and 3 degrees outside the prescribed sectors. degrees outside the prescribed sectors. (ii) For sternlights and masthead lights (2) For sternlights and masthead lights and at 22.5 degrees abaft the beam for and at 22.5 degrees abaft the beam for sidelights, the minimum required sidelights, the minimum required intensities shall be maintained over the intensities shall be maintained over the arc of the horizon up to 5 degrees within arc of the horizon up to 5 degrees within the limits of the sectors prescribed in Rule the limits of the sectors prescribed in 21. From 5 degrees within the prescribed Rule 21. From 5 degrees within the sectors the intensity may decrease by 50 prescribed sectors the intensity may percent up to the prescribed limits; it decrease by 50 percent up to the shall decrease steadily to reach practical prescribed limits; it shall decrease cut-off at not more than 5 degrees steadily to reach practical cut-off at not outside the prescribed sectors. more than 5 degrees outside the prescribed sectors. file:///D|/Nautical/eBooks/20091121102634/annexib.html[21-11-2009 14:15:14]