Rules in a TSS

[Leighb]

I know another ColRegs post, however this came up on our way to Ostend and there seem to be a number of different opinions.

Situation:- We were crossing a TSS with a ship approaching from starboard which was going to pass too close, so avoiding action was required.

Do you
a) Make a small alteration to Stbd to pass fairly close astern and then come back to your proper course

b) Alter 90 deg to Stbd and then back 90 deg when safe to do so.

c) Alter 90 deg to Port and then back 90 deg when safe

d) Do a 180 deg change and reverse direction again when safe.

My view was that a) is unlikely to be obvious to the ship so a poor idea, b) Is wrong as you would then be travelling in the wrong direction in a lane in contravention of Colregs

c) and d) Are both OK but d) wastes a lot of time.

What do others think?

I chose c) by the way but there was a lively discussion on board /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[calamitys38]

I would suggest that (b) is probably OK, but a little too "enthusiastic". An alteration of course to Starboard for a vessel on your starboard side is the most "correct" manoeuvre - it need not be the 90 degrees that you suggest though. I would have altered to starboard to aim for just aft of his stern. That way the OOW on the other vessel would see you have altered course and by night see a different set of your lights. I would then have followed his stern round back to my original course.

The fact that you would be going the "wrong" way down the TSS is waived for collision avoidance manoeuvres. Additionally, provided it was not the full 90 degrees you suggested but more like a 30 to 60 degrees alteration and then following the other vessels stern round as its bearing changes would minimise the time spent going the wrong way.

 

[jerryat]

Agree. A definite and clear alteration to starboard sufficient to ensure it's obvious what your intentions are, then back on course as soon as it's sensible. Done it loads of times and often get a wave from the port bridge if we go fairly close! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[alan17]

Are you certain it was a wave and not a gesticulation?

 

[markleuty]

On Sunday we crossed from Brighton to Fecamp and the same situation occured to us.

I was thinking of either turning 90 to right or 90 to left and whilst procrastinating, the ship turned to port to avoid us. So 90 to port was the only sensible solution, had I have changed course.

Mark

 

[Skyva_2]

b) is fine, show the ship enough turn to demonstrate you have seen him (assuming he has seen you...).. temporary and necessary alterations do not qualify as going the wrong way in the TSS.

Turning to port, it could take for ever to cross a busy TSS.

 

[Sailfree]

I think you will find that in crossing from Brighton to Fecamp you were not in a TSS but in the "stream " of ships travelling between two TSS.

Its therefore a case of power gives way to sail.

In a TSS a vessel of <20m shall not impede a ship following a TSS therefore <20m sailing gives way to power.

Hence why the OP needed to take avoiding action.

I would have altered copurse to starboard to indicate that I was aiming at their stern to pass behind. Bear in mind that modern container ships do nearly 30knot therefore it takes only 4 min to do 2Nm and you at 5knots will only be 1/3Nm from the ships intended track (almost in front of it) so I would clearly alter course when the ship is more than 2Nm away!

 

[lw395]

Bearing in mind that there will be other ships approaching, I would probably make something like a sharp 45 degree turn to stbd then progressively resume course as it became clear the ship was crossing. If motoring, a reduction in speed might be good, less deviation from your track so less confusing to anyone else who is tracking you on radar?

 

[lenseman]

Show him a 'red' and resume when you are 2 points abaft his beam.

 

[Cruiser2B]

In a TSS a vessel of <20m shall not impede a ship following a TSS therefore <20m sailing gives way to power.

That's not the way the rule is written. A vessel <20m or a sailing vessel (of any size) shall not impede a power-driven vessel following a traffic lane. There is a distinction, and if you look at Rule 8(f)(iii) "A vessel the passage of which is not to be impeded remains fully obliged to comply with the rules of this Part when the two vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision." you can see that where there is a risk of collision, the relevant steering and sailing rules also apply. I say also because the sailing vessel remains obligated to "not impede". The 'not impede' clauses are amongst the most misunderstood and controversial sections in the Colregs. Notwithstanding I agree that the sailing vessel in question should have made an early and substantial alteration to stbd, then shaped a course to pass astern.

 

[H4B]

Following on from this thread .

I was crossing Dover strait from Bologne toward Dungeness . In the NE lane I encountered a tug on my port bow at about 50 degrees , He was on a steady bearing when we first saw its superstructure at >3miles and remained so, as a sailing vessel on port tack and a crossing vessel I did not consider that I would be impeding a highly manouvreable tug so I stood on, watching closely . He got to about <400m before making a bold alteration to starboard and passed astern of me at about 30 m. The skipper gave me a jolly wave. Conditions were clear and sea slight . It all ended happyily but I was getting concerned and was just about to bare away to stbd and run off to reverse course.

I imagine he was thinking he could get ahead of me and late thought better of it.

I find the rules re vessels <20m and TSS confusing but non of the specific TSS rules take precedent over the basic rules. If the vessel above had been a large vessel then I would have taken action sooner to have not impeded him but in this situation there is a mid range of vessel which could and should give way to vessels crossing a TSS from a position on their staboard bow, if it is safe for them to do so.

The previous day I had turned back and did not enter the TSS lane because of visibility of 50 - 100 meters and eventually crossed when vis lifted.

 

[Sailfree]

I think you acted wrongly.

Sailing boats under 20m shall not impede a vessel in a TSS.

I believe the onus was on you as the crossing boat not to force the power vessel travelling correctly in a TSS to alter course.

 

[H4B]

Thank you Sailfree but he could safely alter course to keep out of my way and it was his duty to do so . If had been large or there had been other shipping so as to impede him I would have kept clear . This is where I find the the < 20m in TSS ambiguos.
Rule 10 states
(a) This rule applies to traffic seperation schemes adopted by the organization and does not relieve any vessel or her ebligation under any other rule.

. I do not think it a clear cut case of right or wrong

 

[wotayottie]

Seems I'm the only one who turns through 180 in such situations - better to sail a course which increases the CPA distance since its very difficult to judge that from a small vessel.

 

[lw395]

Can't see that 180 degree turn should ever be necessary unless you have got very very close to the bows of something.

Whilst avoiding one ship, I also want to make progress to cross the next ship that I haven't seen yet!

My worst experience was avoiding a ship which at the same time started to execute a 135degree turn. No sound signals or anything, I think he was possibly stopping for a pilot to board or something! This was not in a TSS, but crossing to St Vaast, so influenced by TSS.

 

[Jean]

Interesting case this one, and perhaps needs initial scenario extending to include additional vessels on same route as the referred to vessel, but not necessarily the same track (and hence have tracks nearer or further away from the crossing sailing vessel). Extending it further, there may be other crossing vessels in the area, particularly from the other side, and visibility too may be an issue (can’t initially see some of these vessels, but have to assume they may be there). That’s why it’s vital that the Rules of the Road are strictly adhered to, and an initial “showing of red” to the first obvious potential collision hazard vessel is likely to be the best option, then continuously modify course as necessary (within the Rules) as any more vessels become apparent, or change their course for any reason. Enough to put you off a first time channel crossing did I hear you say!