What a dick head!

[Capt Cautious]

My experince is the commerical traffic will often adjust thier course to aviod small sailing craft crossing the Dover TSS. IIRC the obligation is not to impede the passage of craft using the TSS rather by than being the give way vessel at all time while crossing.

That said if a collision still looks likely I have no hesitation in making a clear course alteration (usually) towards the ship's stern.

My own experience is that I normally have to alter for small craft in the Dover TSS, whereas larger vessels are somewhat more thoughtful. A reason for this is the perception of distance. A large power driven vessel will consider 1 mile to be too close for comfort if the vessel does not appear to be taking action, and a prudent mariner will assume the worst (risk of collision exists) and act accordingly. The guy on the small vessel is only just seeing the mastlights of the large vessel coming over the horizon, and considers 0.5 miles to be more than reasonable.
Its always a good practice in close quarters situations to put yourself on the bridge of the other vessel. "Not to impede" means that you must take action before the colregs come into effect - its a complicated concept when mixed in with everything else, and one that is widely misunderstood.

CC

 

[Lucky Duck]

Part of the problem is that it can be very difficult to determine if a risk of collision exists until a ship is relatively close (perhaps too close for comfort) as the compass bearings will be steady at first and even with a MARPA equipped radar a consistent picture in terms of CPA, etc. is not always available.

 

[Capt Cautious]

The solution is once again in the rules - if you are in doubt, then risk of collision can be deemed to exist. The whole business of altering around the stern of a large pdv can be a bit dodgey too. If you were originally required to avoid impeding, then you are still required to avoid impeding, however, when risk of collision exists the pdv is also a give way vessel, and this is simply a crossing situation (assuming you are a small pdv and not a sailing vessel), altering to port and round his stern is specifically precluded as it conflicts with the anticipated action of the pdv, who will most probably alter to stbd. When you are required not to impede you are required to take early action to allow sufficient searoom for the safe passage of the other vessel. Any action that you do take must also make allowance for action that may be taken by the other guy.The interpretation of early is somewhat subjective.

CC

 

[goboatingnow]

That's going to be fun in fog or poor visibility - two vessels not knowing who's give way and who's stand on.

Somebody needs to read up on their COLREGS badly

Dave

 

[Capt Cautious]

Somebody needs to read up on their COLREGS badly

Dave

I think thats the problem Dave, people HAVE been reading them badly.

CC

 

[Ubergeekian]

Somebody needs to read up on their COLREGS badly

Did you not get the context, then? The suggestion was made that commercial shipping should always have priority, creating the concepts of stand on and give way in fog and poor visibility. Before deciding what to do, therefore, you'd need to know whether the other vessel was commercial or not. Like I said ... fun!