International regulations for preventing collisions at sea 1972

From book ‘A guide to the collision avoidance rules’ 

這些法例是國際適用的,由international maritime organization (IMO)立法

各個國家可以根據自己國家的特別情況立法,法例適用於自己國家的水域,碼頭,但這些法例不可以跟國際法例有衝突.

在公海international waters, 船的註冊國家有執法力

在某個國家的水域national waters, 那個國家有執法力.

Shall=must

Part A - general

Rule 1 - application:

(a)   這些法例適用於所有 在公海(high seas)的船,和所有跟公海連接的水域,這些水域是遠洋船可以通過的

在陸地,在不跟公海連接的水域就不關事了

These rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.

(b)   這些國際法例不應跟各國家的法例有衝突.

各國碼頭,跟公海連接的水域,可以因為特別的地理環境而製訂法例,只適用於自己的地方,但不能跟這些國際法例衝突,應盡量接近

Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadstead, harbours, rivers, lakes, or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall conform as closely as possible to these Rules.

(c)    漁船vessel engaged in fishing,軍艦ship of war,被護航的船vessels proceeding under convoy,

國家可以為以上3隻船增加signal lights, shape, whistle signals

只要不要跟國際法例的燈號有相似的地方.

Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rule made by the government of any State with respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to additional station or signal lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape, or signal authorised elsewhere under these Rules

(d)   為實施這些規則，IMO可採用分道通航制traffic separation scheme

Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules.

(e)   在number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights, shapes, sound-signalling appliances方面, 有些船可以例外,例如軍船,潛艇submarine

它們可以不跟這些國際規則, 要跟該國家的法例,

而那些國家的法例則要盡量跟國際法例

Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of any special construction or purpose cannot comply with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to the number, position, range, or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, such vessel shall comply with such other provisions in regard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as her Government shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect of that vessel.

Rule 2 - responsibility

(a)   如違犯了這些規則, 船主(owner), 船長(master), 船員(crew),是不能免責的

Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case

(b)   如為了避免危險,必須違反規則,可以接受

 In construing and complying with these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these rules necessary to avoid immediate danger

Rule 3 - general definitions

(a)   vessel:所有能在水上移動的運輸工具

 The word “vessel” includes every description of water craft, including non-displacement craft, wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle, and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

(b)   Power-driven vessel: vessel propelled by machinery

The term "power-driven vessel" means any vessel propelled by machinery.

(c)    sailing vessel: 風帆, 就算有裝engine,也沒有使用engine的

The term "sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

(d)   vessel engaged in fishing: 有晒設備專業捕魚(fishing apparatus),不是私人娛樂,不是幾個人拿著魚桿釣魚, 要有 restricted manoeuvrability.

 The term "vessel engaged in fishing" means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restrict manoeuvrability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict manoeuvrability.

(e)   Seaplane: 指一些飛機可以同時在水中走,可以在水降落

The word "seaplane" includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water.

(f)     Vessel not under command: 是指船不受控制了,或動不了. (Unable to manoeuvre as required), 所以不能避船

The term "vessel not under command" means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

(g)   Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre: 受到工作性質限制,有移動限制, 不能避船,例如:鋪水底cable,水底水管,挖泥中dredging,測量surveying,潛水工作. A vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre from the nature of work.

The term "vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre" means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The term "vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre" shall include but not be limited to:

(i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing, or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable or pipeline;

(ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;

(iii) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway;

(iv) a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;

(v) a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;

(vi) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

(h)   Vessel constrained by her draught:因為draught的限制而不能隨便偏離course. Vessel constrained by her draught: restricted in ability to deviate from the course she is following. Due to available depth and width of navigable water.

The term "vessel constrained by her draught" means a power-driven vessel which, because of her draught in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water, is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following.

(i)     Underway: 在水中,沒有拋錨,沒有綁繩到碼頭, 沒有擱淺 not at anchor, not made fast to shore, not aground.

The word "underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

(j)     Length: length overall.

Breadth: greatest breadth

The words "length" and "breadth" of a vessel mean her length overall and greatest breadth

(k)    A船見到B船,就代表B船也見到A船,如果B船見不到A船,是B船的疏忽

Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.

(l)     Restricted visibility: visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms.

The term "restricted visibility" means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or other similar causes.

(m)  wing-in-ground (WIG) craft: 在水面飛

The term "Wing-In-Ground (WIG) craft" means a multimodal craft which, in its main operational mode, flies in close proximity to the surface by utilizing surface-effect action.