Steering and Sailing Rules RULE 10 Traffic Separation Schemes (a) This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes adopted by the Organization. (b) A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall: (i) proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane; (ii) so far as practicable keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation zone; (iii) normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so at as small an angle to the general direction of traffic flow as practicable. (c) A vessel shall so far as practicable avoid crossing traffic lanes, but if obliged to do so shall cross as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow. (d) Inshore traffic zones shall not normally be used by through traffic which can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the adjacent traffic separation scheme. However, vessels of less than 20 meters in length and sailing vessels may under all circumstances use inshore traffic zones. (e) A vessel other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane shall not normally enter a separation zone or cross a separation line except: (i) in cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger; (f) A vessel navigating in areas near the terminations of traffic separation schemes shall do so with particular caution. (g) A vessel shall so far as practicable avoid anchoring in a traffic separation scheme or in areas near its terminations. (h) A vessel not using a traffic separation scheme shall avoid it by as wide a margin as is practicable. (i) A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any vessel following a traffic lane. (j) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a power-driven vessel following a traffic lane. Steering and Sailing Rules RULE 10 Vessel Traffic Services Each vessel required by regulation to participate in a vessel traffic service shall comply with the applicable regulations. Steering and Sailing Rules RULE 10-Continued (k) A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when engaged in an operation for the maintenance of safety of navigation in a traffic separation scheme is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation. (1) A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when engaged in an operation for the laying, servicing or picking up of a submarine cable, within a traffic separation scheme, is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation. Steering and Sailing Rules Section II-Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Another RULE 11 Rules in this Section apply to vessels in sight of one another. RULE 12 (a) When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows: (i) when each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other; (ii) when both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward; (iii) if a vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or on the starboard side, she shall keep out of the way of the other. (b) For the purposes of this Rule the windward side shall be deemed to be the side opposite to that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried. |