Rules of shipping. How do ships disperse at sea?

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

So that sea vessels do not collide when they meet, they must adhere to special rules that take into account the heterogeneity of the moving stream. On the high seas, vehicles move in accordance with international rules. The movement of ships along the inland sea lanes is determined by the official document of each country. Consider the features of their movement in order to understand how ships disperse at sea.

Internal rules

Sea traffic flow includes various types of ships. Among them are pushers, tankers, towing vehicles, passenger, cargo and auxiliary units. All of them differ from each other in the speed of movement, dimensions and other characteristics.

To avoid accidents on inland sea routes, vehicles move in accordance with the established rules of navigation. In Russia, this is the "Rules of navigation on the inland waterways of the Russian Federation." An official document has legal force, therefore, persons who violate it are liable for administrative, material or criminal nature. The norms of the law apply to the crews of ships thatmove along inland sea routes, as well as on floating structures crossing large lakes and the mouths of large rivers.

Main Sections

"Rules of navigation on inland waterways of the Russian Federation" consists of several parts.

1. General provisions - introduction.
2. Means used to identify ships.
3. Application of signaling (visual, sound, night running, parking, daytime, special).
4. Traffic rules.
5. Parking rules.

Depending on the type of vessel, the following types of lights are used: mast (including additional), right, left, stern running, towing. The main distress signals are: cannon shot, continuous sound, rocket, SOS radiotelephone, smoke.

Maneuvering rules

The law of the Russian Federation explains in detail how ships disperse at sea. The document spells out the following order of navigable movement.

1. On a section where two-way traffic is provided, the sea vessel should follow the right lane. If this is not possible, it must follow the axis of the ship's course.
2. Maritime vehicles are prohibited from crossing the traffic lane to approach the parking area if the distance from the approaching vessel is less than 1 km.
3. A floating structure that is heading up, when an oncoming vehicle is detected, must coordinate its actions with it in advance using radio channels. He also needs to give a go-ahead (conventional sign) from the port side.
4. High-speed vehicles at the meeting should disperse to the port side. A symbol is given by a vessel moving upwards.
5. Overtaking one vehicle by another is carried out on the port side of the vessel being overtaken. But the latter must be warned in advance of the upcoming maneuver using sea location, after which it reduces speed until overtaking is completed.
6. When sea vehicles move towards each other at the same time along the one-way section, the ship going up must let the ship going down.

In order to navigate well in space, the captains and crews of ships must know the marine position - the features of a particular area: physical-geographical, navigational and others.

Rules for admission to management

To drive a sea vehicle, the candidate must have an appropriate diploma of education, a certificate and other documents confirming the right to drive a specific vessel. The sailor must know the basics of navigation and have the appropriate physical training. The position of captain requires the appropriate experience and leadership skills to manage the crew. The ship's commander must know the nautical charts of the movement of ships well.

Supervision of compliance with internal regulations is carried out by the Maritime Safety Inspectorate, as well as the River Navigation Service.

What are the rules against?

The Law of the Russian Federation on Inland Navigation explains how ships disperse at sea. These rules must be observed by all participants in the maritime traffic flow. The official document lists prohibited maneuvers. Among them:

1. Divergence of vehicles and overtaking in the place where the emergency or repair barrier, ferry crossing is located. Overtaking is not allowed at the entrance to the locks.
2. Movement of vehicles that do not have radar stations.
3. Rowing boats, motor boats and sport yachts approaching transport vessels or crossing their course.
4. Rowing boats in close proximity to passing ships.

International Rules

They must be followed by all vehicles on the high seas. The internal rules of the Russian Federation take into account international requirements for shipping. Let's consider how ships diverge at sea by international standards.

1. When ships pass, it is necessary to change course to the right and reduce speed. When ships diverge on the high seas, it is acceptable to change course by 30-90 degrees.
2. When approaching floating structures with a mechanical engine, which are on opposite courses, each of them chooses the path of movement, using additional indicative maneuvering signals. In this situation, neither of the courts has an advantage: they are not obliged to give way to each other. Vehicles are movingand make decisions based on the traffic situation.
3. A sailing vessel on the left side gives way to a vessel on the right side.
4. The overtaking vehicle must sail away from the object being overtaken, avoiding too close to it.