BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on vessel "B" and crossing a narrow channel. Vessel "A", who can only navigate within the channel, is on your port bow and crossing as shown in illustration D040RR below. Which action should you take?
⢠Rule 9 ā Narrow Channels: Vessels that can safely navigate only inside the channel have special priority. ⢠The obligation of a vessel crossing a narrow channel and the phrase "shall not impede" in Rule 9. ⢠Difference between a normal crossing situation (Rule 15) and a situation that occurs inside or across a narrow channel.
⢠Ask yourself: Does the fact that vessel A can only navigate within the channel change the usual port/starboard crossing rule? ⢠If you, on vessel B, continue across, will you impede vessel Aās safe passage along the channel? What does Rule 9 say you must do in that case? ⢠Under what circumstances would you sound the danger signal, and do you already have a clear Rule telling you who must keep out of the way here?
⢠Verify the exact wording in Rule 9(b)/(d) ā Narrow Channels about vessels crossing or not impeding a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel. ⢠Confirm that vessel B is crossing the channel and vessel A is constrained to the channel by her draft or available depth/width. ⢠Before choosing, be sure you are applying Rule 9 first, and only then considering the normal crossing rule (Rule 15), rather than the other way around.
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