General RULE 3-CONTINUED The term "vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver" shall include but not be limited to: (i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable or pipeline; (ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations; (iii) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway; (iv) a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft; (v) a vessel engaged in mineclearance operations; (vi) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course. (h) The term "vessel constrained by her draft" means a power-driven vessel which, because of her draft in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following. (i) The word "underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground. (i) The words "length" and "breadth" of a vessel means her length overall and greatest breadth. (k) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other. (1) The term "restricted visibility" means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes. "shall General RULE 3-CONTINUED gation era pro (i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing, or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable, or pipeline; (ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying, or underwater operations; (iii) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions, or cargo while underway; (iv) a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft; (v) a vessel engaged in mineclearance operations; and (vi) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course. (h) The word "underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground; (i) The words "length" and "breadth" of a vessel means her length overall and greatest breadth; (j) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other; (k) The term "restricted visibility" means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes; General RULE 3-CONTINUED (1) "Western Rivers" means the Mississippi River, its tributaries, South Pass, and Southwest Pass, to the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States, and the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route, and that part of the Atchafalaya River above its junction with the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route including the Old River and the Red River; (m) "Great Lakes" means the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters including the Calumet River as far as the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock and Controlling Works (between mile 326 and 327), the Chicago River as far as the east side of the Ashland Avenue Bridge (between mile 321 and 322), and the Saint Lawrence River as far east as the lower exit of Saint Lambert Lock; (n) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating; (o) "Inland Waters" means the navigable waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States and the waters of the Great Lakes on the United States side of the International Boundary; (p) "Inland Rules" or "Rules" mean the Inland Navigational Rules and the annexes thereto, which govern the conduct of vessels and specify the lights, shapes, and sound signals that apply on inland waters; and (q) "International Regulations" means the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, including annexes currently in force for the United States. Steering and Sailing Rules PART B-STEERING AND SAILING RULES Section I-Conduct of Vessels in Any RULE 4 Rules in this Section apply to any condition of visibility. RULE 5 Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision. |