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Feature Articles
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Operating in fog: Heed rules of the road
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This article is reprinted with permission of Commercial Fisheries News, the Northeast's fishing newspaper for over 30 years, ©2003 Compass Publications Inc. Commercial Fisheries News is published monthly; annual subscriptions are $21.95. To subscribe or request a sample issue: call (877) 263-4496; fax (207) 367-2490; e-mail (cfoster@fish-news.com); or click on the hot link.
by Ann Backus, MS
Director of Outreach
Department of Environmental Health
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston MA
Phone (617) 432-3327;
E-mail abackus@hohp.harvard.edu
Was that a near-miss in the ferry lane recently on a foggy return trip from Vinalhaven, ME? I looked out the ferry window to see a sailboat recovering from an abrupt course change that likely saved the crew from a collision with the Vinalhaven ferry.
What was not a near-miss, however, was the collision of a lobster boat and a recreational sailboat off Stonington on that same foggy Monday morning. Fortunately, the crews of both vessels were OK (see Along the Coast page 4A of Commercial Fisheries News, September 2002).
Fog is a hazard, but the risk of accidents in the fog can be reduced greatly if all parties know and adhere to the navigational "rules of the road." These apply to both commercial vessels and recreational craft.
Many of us presume that each crew on the water knows and is able to apply the rules of the road. But many boaters have the misconception that all vessels under power must yield to vessels under sail.
Engaged in fishing
This is not the case since the rules of the road say that a vessel "engaged in fishing" has the right of way over all other vessels, whether they are powered or under sail.
The term "engaged in fishing" is defined as "any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing apparatus which restrict maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability."
Rules of the road, Rule 18 specifies that all powered vessels and all sailing vessels in sight of one another must yield to vessels that are engaged in fishing.
How should the sailboat or any other boat know that your vessel is fishing? In both international and inland waters, a vessel fishing must either display two cones touching at their apexes or, if trawling, a green light above a white light plus a masthead light. If fishing but not trawling, a vessel must display a red light above a white light. In each case, if underway, the required underway lights must be displayed as well.
In fog
Visibility in the fog can vary drastically from one location to another within a small geographical area. From various legal cases and interpretations, it is now understood that vessels should be able to stop within half the distance of the total visibility. For example, if the visibility is 100', two vessels on a collision course should be able to stop within 50'.
A key rule to knowing if a collision is a possibility is this: "Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means. ..." This is Rule 8.
With only one or two people on board, this can be a considerable challenge given that there are multiple tasks that require attention. The corollary to this is that all vessels "must at all times maintain a safe speed" (Rule 9).
When vessels can't see each other, it is then time for horns, bells, and gongs. The table shows Rule 35 regarding the use of a sound signal when vessels are in conditions of restricted visibility. Vessels less than 12 meters (39.4') in length are not obliged to use these specific sound signals, but they must make some sound or signal at intervals of not more than two minutes.
For the items in this table, the rules are the same for both international and inland waters, although, in some navigational situations, this is not the case.
Rules' authority
The rules of the road are based on the 1972 International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea, known as the 72 COLREGS, as well as on the complementary Inland Navigational Rules adopted by Congress in the early '80s, amendments adopted in 1995 by the International Maritime Organization, and further amendments by the US Coast Guard.
A copy of the US Coast Guard Navigational Rules may be obtained from marine supply stores or from the US Government Printing Office.
FISH SAFE:
- Keep a look-out.
- Keep a safe speed based on conditions.
- Signal as required by law in good and poor visibility conditions.
- Know and apply the rules of the road.
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Rules of the Road, Rule 35: Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility
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| Vessel Situation |
International and Inland Waters |
| Powered and underway |
...shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, one PROLONGED BLAST. |
| Powered and underway but stopped |
...shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, two PROLONGED BLASTS with an interval of about 2 seconds between them
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Fishing and underway;
fishing at anchor;
sailing vessel |
...shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes 3 BLASTS in succession, namely 1 PROLONGED, followed by 2 SHORT BLASTS.
A vessel engaged in fishing when at anchor shall sound the above 3 BLASTS signal in lieu of the "vessel at anchor" signal of bell ringing mentioned below.
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Not under command;
restricted maneuverability;
restricted maneuverability working at anchor |
...shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes 3 BLASTS in succession, namely 1 PROLONGED, followed by 2 SHORT BLASTS. |
| Vessels at anchor (other than the "at anchor" situations above) |
...shall at intervals of not more than one minute ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds. (Consult Rule 35(g) if LOA is 100 meters or more.)
A vessel at anchor may in addition sound 3 BLASTS in succession namely 1 SHORT, 1 PROLONGED, and 1 SHORT BLAST to give warning of her position and the possibility of collision to an approaching vessel.
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