The term "Impeding" Explained

[calamitys38]

Calam
Thnaks for explaining. I see your point. I gotta say though, this just adds to the list of faults in the colregs imho. It's kinda like the rules of the (tamac) road saying when a car approaches a green traffic light he must stnad on, and when a car approaches red light he must give way, and when the red-light car is blues-n-twosing the green light car must not impede, but still has right of way.

Blimey - one rule is saying stand on and you have right of way, and another is saying you must keep out of the way of. I mean, 17ai positively says hold your course if you are stand on, no choice. Yet 8fi says get out of the way of (say) an RAM boat. And 8fii sort of says the normal give way rules apply to the RAM vessel so it is the give way boat, yet the boat to which it gives way to must not impede it.

What a sodding mess. The rules should state quite clearly who has to get out of whose way. Not say A is stand on, B is giveway, and then say (with no hierarchical ranking of these conflicting rules) that A isn't allowed to impede B. Sheesh!

Thanks for pointing this out though Calam!

Thanks JFM - its the fact that the term "Shall Not" or "Avoid Impeding the passage of" exist in the Rules as written that I felt they deserved an explanation with the help of a simple analogy. Whether these terms should exist at all is a whole new argument (and one that Tim Bartlett is trying to work out on another thread as you know).

If I was being really picky though - everybody (and fishing vessels so far as possible) keeps clear of a vessel RAM (as per Rule 18). It's a vessel CB you should not "impede" and fishing, sailing and vessels less than 20m should not impede a PDV in a TSS and... a vessel crossing a narrow channel or fairway should not impede a PDV which can only follow a narraow channel or fairway. Therefore, it is really important to understand the differs as stated in the Rules between "Shall Keep Out of The Way Of" and "Shall Not Impede".

Anyway, I understand your point and yes the Rules (as they are written) can be very confusing sometimes. However, I would suggest (as I did on the other thread) that written as they are, they are all inclusive, flexible and can apply anywhere, to any vessel and in any situation.

Happy sailing