Rule 19: Conduct Of Vessels In Restricted Visibility

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----------ABOUT THE VIDEO----------

This video was originally uploaded to our other channel, Casual Navigation, back in 2018.

An "in depth" look at Rule 19 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the COLREGS. The COLREGS are the rules of the road that vessels must obey at sea to avoid collisions.

Rule 19 details "Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility". In this video I go into detail about each part of the rule and give examples of how to apply the rule at sea.

----------RULE 19----------

Rule 19: Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

(a) This Rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility.

(b) Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. A power-driven vessel shall have her engines ready for immediate manoeuvre.

(c) Every vessel shall have due regard to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility when complying with the Rules of Section I of this Part.

(d) A vessel which detects by radar alone the presence of another vessel shall determine if a close-quarters situation is developing and/or risk of collision exists. If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time, provided that when such action consists of an alteration of course, so far as possible the following shall be avoided:

i. an alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken;

ii. an alteration of course towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.

(e) Except where it has been determined that a risk of collision does not exist, every vessel which hears apparently forward of her beam the fog signal of another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with another vessel forward of her beam, shall reduce her speed to the minimum at which she can be kept on her course. She shall if necessary take all her way off and in any event navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over.

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[russellscarbury]

I'm working on my Towing assessment record and these videos are amazing refreshers. Thank you for making these.

[rogershaver]

Hey Mr. whats your first name? My bridge watch instructor likes to refer to you as Simon when he uses your videos in our class. And we all have different guesses as to what your name is, I'm pretty sure its Mathew. Thanks for the great videos by the way!

[MaheshYadav-jloe]

So much information in a video. Voala !! Thanks Mate .

[LucasRodrigues-riqw]

Great videos man. Pretty good work. Thank you a lot

[raviv]

ago

Thanks for the explaination. I have a doubt as in exams they r asking situations with multiple targets. So do we have to take account of the targets action as well before taking action for mca exams. Kindly advice. Eg. You have a target fwd of your beam on port bow. So as per 19 we can overtake on either side P or Something. But if we think of that target it shall not alter to stbd as we r on stbd abaft her beam in this case our answer should be broad alteration to stbd. Please advice. Thanks

[ymane]

A vessel on 1 point fwd of stbd beam action ? As per rule fwd of beam alter stbd but then it will be CQS

[ymane]

Vessel right astern in rv not taking action what will be our priority because she is overtaking and can alter to any side when taking action so what should be our priority

[Sailing]

What happens if vessel is right behind of our vessel with more speed at 3 NM in restricted visibility??

[georgesaguna]

I don’t think it’s just as simple as that, I mean you can’t just split the radar screen in four and one answer fits all. You have to finish the plot and find the course the other vessel, not finishing the plot is scanty information. Let’s say you have a vessel on your port bow and once you plot you can see that you abaft his beam, he will be altering course to starboard and with your reasoning you should be going to starboard too. That would not solve the situation but most probably make it worse. Just like if you had an other vessel behind you, you could alter to port or to starboard as he is neither on port or starboard side. Rule 13 does not apply here as it makes part of section 2 of part B and is only valid for rules in sight of one an other. You are duty bound to take action in such a situation.

[andrewbrowne]

RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. POWER DRIVEN VESSEL DETECTED RIGHT AHEAD ON RADAR. YOU HAVE A POWER DRIVEN VESSEL ABAFT ABEAM STARBOARD SIDE YOU ARE OVERTAKING. WHAT ARE YOUR ACTIONS