What Now Skip? If I Ruled the World

[timbartlett]

I'm toying with the idea of a bit of a change for February's What Now Skip.

I'd like you to imagine that IMO has invited the members of the ybw forum to rewrite the collision regulations, starting with a blank screen. Our ideas have to be fair and realistic (so you can't ban jetskis or supertankers) and it would help if they were easy to understand and obey.

What ideas would you bring to our first meeting?

Usual WNS guidelines apply as far as practical, so please remember:

* The idea is to offer a nautical puzzle, which experienced skippers will (hopefully) find interesting or entertaining, from which the less experienced may be able to learn something, and from which we can all pick up ideas.
* WNS is not a competition to see who can match some hidden but predetermined solution. Of course I have an answer in mind, but mine may not be the best or only answer.
* If you think I've missed something or given confusing information please ask for clarification.
* Attributed extracts from selected posts may appear in the next issue of MBY (subject to Hugo's decision!).

For what it's worth, here are my ideas. I don't pretend that they are comprehensive, but nor am I asking anyone to replace the entire colregs in one go: if there's just one rule that you'd like changed, let's have it!

1. The rules apply to everyone, everywhere -- no "local" rules, and no cop-outs
2. AIS (or AIS B) and VHF compulsory for all vessels over 1 tonne displacement
3. All vessels fall into one of four classes:
class 0 = normal vessels -- power and auxiliary sail
class 1 = fishing vessels, unpowered sail
class 2 = restricted in ability to manoeuvre (including constrained by draft or tugs with tows)
class 3 = disabled (anchored, aground, mechanical failure)
4. Any vessel must give way to a vessel of a higher class, unless the higher class vessel is overtaking
5. Except in traffic separation schemes, narrow channels, and overtaking situations, when vessels of the same class meet:
(i)Any vessel meeting a vessel of the same class which is directly ahead or to starboard, must give way by altering course to starboard. She may also reduce speed.
(ii) Any vessel meeting a vessel of the same class which is directly ahead or to port, may give way by altering course to starboard, but must avoid altering course to port or reducing speed.
6. Existing TSS and Narrow channels rules simplified but essentially unchanged
7. Existing side, stern, and steaming light rules amended to a more sensible cut off angle (eg 120 degrees instead of 112.5) but otherwise unchanged. All other lights scrapped in favour of all-round yellow lights:
0 for class 0
1 for class 1
2 for class 2
3 for class 3

 

[MapisM]

you can't ban jetskis or supertankers

What about sailboats?
...now where's my coat when I need it....

 

[jfm]

Wow, massive question. So much to say on this topic but not enough time to type it. Meantime some quick thoughts:

Much better to amend current rules than start blank sheet of paper. Current rules are 80% ok

You gotta think very carefully before insisting hardware changes. So better not to have your 120 angle lamps, etc. The wasted cost of £zillions, with no matching utility, would be absurd. In any case our parliament will not constiutionally (I know we dont quite have one...) pass a law unless there is an identified problem it is seeking to fix. I like your yellow light system though - see 7below

Just on your suggestions:

1. Agreed
2. Transmit or receive? A receiver needs a screen - you can't really impose on people the need to buy a waterproof colour screen at £1000 min, just to use a boat, sheesh. And a battery. So I disagree
3. You mean boats can flip between classes, depending on what they're doing at any given moment, right?
5i - disagree. Too prescriptive. Speeding up should be allowed, because it's often appropriate eg in a crossing situation
5 i&ii taken together, you are saying BOTH vessels must give way in a crossing situation. No, I think the current position where one of them is stand-on, is better. In current Colregs the only time both give way is head-on meet, and that's fine as an exceptin, but in all other cases I think it is better to define a hierarchy (as you do with class 0,1,2,3) and so define a give way and a stand on vessel
7. I'd like to see lights and shapes simplified so I agree this general concept. But gotta compromise and keep to minimum to save wasted resources. Would need a 10 year transition etc...

There is some great written academic material on improving colregs on the web. Read for example the essays by Iain Stitt (an old partner of mine at Arthur Andersen in the 1990s, VERY clever and nice guy, and experienced boater, ex RN)

 

[neale]

Amend colregs so that leisure vessels including sail must give way to commercial shipping vessels in all circumstances.

What defines a commercial shipping vessel? One where the skipper is driving in relation to his/her business? Boats over a certain size? Fishing boats? all the above could also be leisure boats on a different day. How would you know by looking at them?

Obviously I understand where you are coming from when it comes to the kind of boats you meet in the shipping lanes, but elsewhere there would be confusion.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Amend colregs so that leisure vessels including sail must give way to commercial shipping vessels in all circumstances.

 

[calamitys38]

Arcs of Visibility

On a point of order - what's wrong with an arc of 112.5 degrees. The reason for the 22.5 degrees aft of the beam bit is originally it was designated as 2 points (there are 11.25 degrees in a point)

And before anyone mentions it, although Points of the compass may be a bit archaic, you can't just change them. It's like saying that having 360 degrees in a circle is silly. Why not make it a nice round 400 degrees?

 

[sarabande]

tara !


your every wish is my command !

http://www.trademarklondon.com/degrees_or_mils_23.html

 

[David_Jersey]

Vessels under 40 feet may fly a burgee (or at night a strobe) which indicates that either a) they do not know or b) will not be following the Colregs.........and are willing to accept the consequences.

Maybe looking something like this:-

With or without the above - another burgee indicating that any vessels approaching within 50 metres will be fired upon.

Maybe looking something like this:-

 

[timbartlett]

Just to clarify:

5. Except in traffic separation schemes, narrow channels, and overtaking situations, when vessels of the same class meet:
(i)Any vessel meeting a vessel of the same class which is directly ahead or to starboard, must give way by altering course to starboard. She may also reduce speed.
(ii) Any vessel meeting a vessel of the same class which is directly ahead or to port, may give way by altering course to starboard, but must avoid altering course to port or reducing speed.

The idea was that those with the other vessel ahead or to starboard must give way (i.e. it's compulsory, as at present)
Those with the other vessel to port may give way (i.e. it removes the compulsory stand-on which so many recreational boaters seem to dislike, but prevents the potentially dangerous conflicts that the stand-on rule was intended to prevent).

 

[timbartlett]

Amend colregs so that leisure vessels including sail must give way to commercial shipping vessels in all circumstances.

This was proposed by the italian government a few years ago.
Would you like to enlarge on the proposal, please?
(definitions? identification?)

The kind of problem I have in mind is that 6360 of the 8520 people on Oasis of the Seas are there purely for pleasure, and that the three-man crew of a 22 foot yacht might be onboard as part of their compulsory professional training at a nautical college.

(PS I'm not arguing for or against it -- just hoping that you'll put some more flesh on its bones!)

 

[timbartlett]

Vessels under 40 feet may fly a burgee (or at night a strobe) which indicates that either a) they do not know or b) will not be following the Colregs.........and are willing to accept the consequences.

I was wondering how to treat racing yachts in my rewrite!
But seriously -- should there be any exemptions from the colregs? And if so, who?

 

[David_Jersey]

I was wondering how to treat racing yachts in my rewrite!

Bl##dy hell I have reduced the Colregs down to 2 rules, and already someone can't understand them

Racing Yachts - amongst themselves they can set their own rules, but when encountering others I beleive that flag 2 covers the situation

But seriously -- should there be any exemptions from the colregs? And if so, who?

My first reaction is to say pleasure gives way to commercial - but if that was made an absolute I can see some Nouveau Chav on a Funseeker getting coded simply for right of way.........


FWIW I think the current Colregs work ok (even though I don't know them well ) - IME the informal rule that small keeps away from VERY big. and rocks. works well enuf.........but, as always, YMMV

 

[misterg]

All the above, but introduce a new flag / rigid replica which reverses the normal priorities when shown:

Use limited to once per year.



Andy

 

[powerskipper]

Col regs

1.If he is bigger than you; give way!

2 Big boys to play in big channel and little boats are guests of that channel and must be curticeouse and keep out the big boys way.

3. Sail boats must mot tack in confined spaces, ie a channel unless there is no other way of propulsion available to them and must fly a disabled by sail flag to inform other river users that they are only able to sail.

4.Strobe lights should be used for vessels under tow or using the services of a tug, Many day shapes are difficult to see.

5.Fish boats trawling must display a large flag and strobe light in the direction of there out lying gear.

6. New to boating peeps must fly a large "L" type flag for the 1st year and a " P " for the second year of boating. there after no flag is required.

 

[timbartlett]

1.If he is bigger than you; give way!

How do you define "bigger" (Should a Wightlink ferry that draws about 8 feet be able to claim tonnage rights over a Whitbread 60 that draws about 15 feet?)

2 Big boys to play in big channel and little boats are guests of that channel and must be curticeouse and keep out the big boys way.

Where does the "big channel" begin and end?

Interesting that several people have come up in favour of a "might is right" rule in some form or another. Anyone like to put some definitions on it that might work? (without leaving very slow vessels desperately trying to escape from very fast ones)

 

[Poignard]

Excuse me for being a bit naive but what is so wrong with the existing ColRegs that they need altering?

The few reports I hear of collisions at sea suggests to me that there can't be much wrong with them.

If people drove their cars with as much attention to the Highway Code as seamen do to the ColRegs, we might see a drastic reduction in the 3,000 or so deaths a year on British roads.

 

[powerskipper]

oo a challage

How do you define "bigger" (Should a Wightlink ferry that draws about 8 feet be able to claim tonnage rights over a Whitbread 60 that draws about 15 feet?)
Ok That can be solved with a flag or light or symbol that says over 10m draft, similar to Constrained by draft of today, but more easily identify at a distance.

Where does the "big channel" begin and end?

This is the deep water channel[Big Channel] and in most cases but not all cases smaller draft vessels can skirt just outside the channel with enough depth for them but not for the bigger deeper draft vessels.Where the 2 have to combine, a shape on the buoy could be used, say a Large triangle for a big ship and a smaller one for the smaller draft vessels on a starboard hand mark.

Interesting that several people have come up in favor of a "might is right" rule in some form or another. Anyone like to put some definitions on it that might work? (without leaving very slow vessels desperately trying to escape from very fast ones

 

[Cliveshep]

AIS and VHF on all pleasure craft over 1 tonne?

I can see that working a treat on the Grand Union or Oxford Canals, or indeed Middle/Upper Thames. And who pays for this unncessary luxury? Joe Blogs with a Norman 20, Fred Smith with his 4hp outboard on a Dawncraft? You'll have to specify that one clearly Tim, Coastal waters, shipping lanes and channels only or the Joes and Freds of this world who potter about the Medway or down the Tideway to the Limehouse reach will want to lynch YOU as well as the current government!

 

[Kawasaki]

Excuse me for being a bit naive but what is so wrong with the existing ColRegs that they need altering?

Nothing parsifal.

However Mr Bartlett has come up with a good Journalistic idea.
Suspect it is rather hard to dream summat up each Month

I mean, crikey Col Regs, Anchoring, de blah de blah, yer know , all the old regulars topics that cause mayhem on the Forai and Mags

I do suspect however that a large percentage of peeps afloat have a pretty poor idea of said Regs.

Plus those that do ignore and abuse them!

OK I have Helmed small commercial vessels occasionally, not much.
Enough though to see that some 'Pros' are a bit lacking.

The 'I,m bigger' scenario seems to have more relevance out there than the Rule Book sometines

I think , I reffered to memories of the 'Navy Lark' on the Light Programne, whilst sitting me Commercial test.

'Right hand down a bit No.1'

 

[MapisM]

This was proposed by the italian government a few years ago.
Would you like to enlarge on the proposal, please? (definitions? identification?)

Not from the government actually, but it was indeed an Italian proposal.
Probably the most important reason why it was rejected, I reckon.
Anyway, nice to see now that some others agree on that - as anyone with a pinch of experience would.
Re. definitions and identification, well, do you really think it would be a problem? If so, why not apply just the law of the jungle? Surely the crew of that 22 feet yacht know perfectly their chances against a 200k+ GT steel monument, without even bothering about colregs...