Today we are look at other aspects of the Rules of the Road in sailing.

It is important to know about FISHING vessels that you will certainly encounter. There are three types: trawling, using a dredge net and setting nets. Actually there is another type of what you might consider fishing but according to Navigation Rules a vessel engaged in trolling is NOT considered fishing! Go figure!

It is very important to know when a vessel is considered NOT UNDER COMMAND: it is when a vessel is unable to maneuver due to an EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCE, which ordinarily would be required to do so according to the Navigation Rules.

Then there is the term: RESTRICTED IN ABILITY TO MANEUVER which refers to vessels that by nature of the work can’t maneuver like one laying cables, taking on supplies, dredging, surveying, etc.

As you can see the NAVIGATION Rules requires one to be very knowledgeable. And this is just the tip of the iceberg in our learning!

Hugh Simpson