2008 REED’s East Coast Edition - Rules & Regulations
Rule 2: Responsibility
ers, and one of the greatest causes of accidents.
This may be the most important of the rules,
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a
and is often known as the common sense or
proper lookout by sight and hearing as well
good seamanship rule. Above all the other rules,
as by all available means appropriate in the
you have a responsibility to avoid collision.
prevailing circumstances and conditions so
(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate
as to make a full appraisal of the situation
any vessel, or the owner, master or crew
and of the risk of collision.
thereof, from the consequences of any ne- Rule 6: Safe Speed
glect to comply with these Rules or of the
Regardless of posted speed limits and no-wake
neglect of any precaution that may be re-
zones, you must consider all the circumstances
quired by the ordinary practice of seamen,
in setting an acceptable speed.
or by the special circumstances of the case.
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a
(b) In construing and complying with these
safe speed so that she can take proper and
Rules due regard shall be had to all dan-
effective action to avoid collision and be
gers of navigation and collision and to
stopped within a distance appropriate to the
any special circumstances, including the
prevailing circumstances and conditions.
limitations of the vessels involved, which
In determining a safe speed the following
may make a departure from these Rules
factors shall be among those taken into ac-
necessary to avoid immediate danger.
count:
Rule 3: General Definitions
(a) By all vessels:
It is very important to have a clear under-
(i) the state of visibility;
standing about to whom the rules are and are
(ii)the traffic density, including concen-
not referring. A sailboat using an auxiliary
trations of fishing vessels or any other
engine, even with sails up, is a powerboat. Gen-
vessels;
erally speaking, “vessels engaged in fishing” are
(iii) the maneuverability of the vessel
commercial fishing boats with lots of heavy gear,
with special reference to stopping
and a recreational fishing boat, even with lines
distance and turning ability in the
out, is unlikely to be included in the category.
prevailing conditions;
See the complete rules for additional definitions.
(iv) at night, the presence of back-
For the purpose of these Rules, except
ground light such as from shore lights
where the context otherwise requires:
or from back scatter of her own lights;
(a) The word “vessel” includes every de-
(v) the state of wind, sea, and current, and
scription of watercraft including non-
the proximity of navigational hazards;
displacement craft and seaplanes, used
(vi) the draft in relation to the available
or capable of being used as a means of
depth of water.
transportation on water.
(b) Additionally, by vessels with operational
(b) The term “power-driven vessel“ means
radar:
any vessel propelled by machinery.
(i) the characteristics, efficiency and
(c) The term “sailing vessel“ means any vessel
limitations of the radar equipment;
under sail provided that propelling ma-
(ii)any constraints imposed by the radar
chinery, if fitted, is not being used.
range scale in use;
(d) The term “vessel engaged in fishing“
(iii)the effect on radar detection of the
means any vessel fishing with nets, lines,
sea state, weather and other sources of
trawls or other fishing apparatus which
interference;
restrict maneuverability, but does not
(iv)the possibility that small vessels, ice
include a vessel fishing with trolling lines
and other floating objects may not be
or other fishing apparatus which do not
detected by radar at an adequate range.
restrict maneuverability.
(v) the number, location and movement
of vessels detected by radar.
Rule 5: Lookout
(vi)the more exact assessment of the vis-
If the person driving is too occupied to keep
ibility that may be possible when ra-
track of the surroundings, somebody else must
dar is used to determine the range of
be assigned to the task. This is the most com-
vessels or other objects in the vicinity.
monly ignored rule among recreational boat-
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