Collision Regulations and Seamanship Flashcards

What lights does an anchored vessel display at night in an anchorage?

Answer: An all-round white light forward (and another aft for vessels over 50 m) — vessels under 7 m in a designated anchorage are exempt

Rule 30 requires an anchored vessel to show one all-round white light in the forward part of the vessel, and for vessels 50 m or more, a second all-round white light at the stern, lower than the forward light. Vessels under 7 m anchored outside a fairway or special anchorage may be exempt.

What is a 'bearing plot' and how is it used to determine risk of collision?

Answer: Taking repeated compass bearings on an approaching vessel — if the bearing is not changing and range is decreasing, risk of collision exists

Rule 7 requires that risk of collision be assessed using all available means. The most basic method: take a series of compass bearings on an approaching vessel. If the bearing remains constant and distance decreases, a collision risk exists. COLREGS call this a 'steady bearing with decreasing range'.

In which situation does a sailing vessel give way to a power-driven vessel?

Answer: When the sailing vessel is overtaking the power-driven vessel, or in a narrow channel or TSS where the power-driven vessel cannot safely navigate outside the channel

While sailing vessels generally have right of way over power-driven vessels, they must give way when overtaking (Rule 13) and shall not impede vessels that can only safely navigate in a narrow channel or TSS (Rules 9 and 10). A vessel under sail and engine simultaneously is considered power-driven.

What is a 'notice to mariners' and how should commercial operators use it?

Answer: Regular updates issued by the Canadian Coast Guard and CHS containing corrections to nautical charts, lights lists, and sailing directions — operators must keep charts corrected to current editions

Notices to Mariners (NtM) are regular bulletins from the Canadian Coast Guard / Canadian Hydrographic Service updating charts, aids to navigation status, new hazards, and changes to ports. Commercial operators must use current, corrected charts and stay up to date with NtMs for their operating area.

What is the purpose of a sound signal of one prolonged and two short blasts?

Answer: It is the fog signal for a vessel not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draft, at anchor but engaged in work, under sail, or engaged in fishing

Rule 35(c) specifies that vessels not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draft, at anchor, under sail, or engaged in fishing sound one prolonged plus two short blasts every 2 minutes in restricted visibility.

Under the COLREGS hierarchy, what is the correct order of priority for vessel types in a give-way situation?

Answer: NUC > RAM > Constrained by Draft > Fishing (with gear) > Under Sail > Power-driven — each gives way to all above it

Rule 18 establishes the hierarchy: power-driven vessels give way to sailing vessels (when not overtaking), which give way to vessels engaged in fishing, which give way to RAM vessels, which give way to NUC vessels. All vessels must avoid vessels constrained by their draft.