Rules of the road.....

[Seajet]

VicS,

I've seen a coaster go past and was able to look through the bridge windows, no-one there !

That's how I assume all ships to be until I find different...

 

[gasdave]

Lights are shown because it's dark, which is not the same thing as reduced visibility.

Pete

Correct. Rule 20 refers to both.

 

[prv]

Correct. Rule 20 refers to both.

Ok, I'm confused; we're obviously talking at cross purposes. Can you clarify what you meant by

Lights are shown because visibility is reduced, so you can't be clear whether they are actively engaged or not.

?

Pete

 

[gasdave]

Ok, I'm confused; we're obviously talking at cross purposes. Can you clarify what you meant by



?

Pete

I was referring to darkness being a form of reduced visibility. I agree that under the Coll Regs it has its own specific meaning as well.

Rule 20 (b) sunset to sunrise
Rule 20 (c) sunrise to sunset in conditions of reduced visibility

No intention to offend

 

[prv]

I was referring to darkness being a form of reduced visibility. I agree that under the Coll Regs it has its own specific meaning as well.

Rule 20 (b) sunset to sunrise
Rule 20 (c) sunrise to sunset in conditions of reduced visibility

No intention to offend

No offence taken or (hopefully) given . I disagree that darkness counts as restricted visibility for purposes of colregs though. Restricted visibility is when you can't see other vessels at normal distances, because of fog (mainly) or falling snow or very heavy rain or whatever. At night you can still see other vessels, assuming they're lit properly.

The rules change completely in restricted visibility, and that doesn't kick in as soon as the sun goes down. Otherwise the OP's question wouldn't make sense - neither he nor the fishing vessel would be stand-on, because there are no stand-on vessels under restricted vis rules.

Pete

 

[wotayottie]

On a practical level, we all know after a few years sailing that the colregs do not apply to fishing boats unless the other boat is several thousand tonnes. So you do the sensible thing, peel off to starboard and do a turn behind him to end up on his port side and then get back on course away from him.

He'll probably change course to thwart you as he follows the school of fish but you cant predict that happening.

Dont even try the radio. Likely you wont get an answer if you do try it, and if you did get an answer it probably wont be either helpful or civil

 

[gasdave]

The rules change completely in restricted visibility, and that doesn't kick in as soon as the sun goes down. Otherwise the OP's question wouldn't make sense - neither he nor the fishing vessel would be stand-on, because there are no stand-on vessels under restricted vis rules.

Pete

Fair point....taken graciously

 

[lw395]

Sailing along one night with engine on so effectively I'm a power driven vessel. Steaming lights and deck navigation lights on. On my port side 20 mins away is a trawler green over white with his starboard light showing. He's on a constant bearing for the next ten minutes. under the rules we are both power driven vessels but I have to give way to a fishing vessel.He is the stand on vessel.Therefore I have to manoeuvre out of his way. If I turn to starboard we will both run a parallel course, which is good in that we avoid a collision but bad for me as we could go along for many miles, or do I turn to port and risk interfering with his fishing . Answers on a post card please. Ta NIK

This sounds like a case where changing your speed might be an effective choice.
Either reduce so he clears you, or , if you are bimbling, increasing to a higher speed might be appropriate, particularly if you judge that he is on that side of a collision risk.
Either would probably be combined with steering on to a more parallel course to enable whichever boat to clear the other by a sensible margin. The alteration of course also helps him see you are taking action, as it's easier to spot than a change of speed.
I assume that the fishing boat is not overtaking you in the scope of R13, in which case he will probably swerve around you fairly late in the day.

 

[macd]

Lights are shown because visibility is reduced, so you can't be clear whether they are actively engaged or not. Need to assume therefore that they are.

Which is precisely why I wrote that "you can only defer to the lights shown", which was more to the point than your re-defining reduced visibility.