THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 3RD APRIL, 1897.
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In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, whether by day or night, the signals described in this Article shall be used as follows, viz. :-
(a.) A steam vessel having way upon her, shall sound, at intervals of not more than 2
minutes, a prolonged blast.
(b.) A steam vessel under way, but stopped and having no way upon her, shall sound, at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, 2 prolonged blasts, with an interval of about 1 second between them.
(c.) A sailing-vessel under way shall sound, at intervals of not more than 1 minute, when on the starboard tack one blast, when on the port tack two blasts in succession, and when with the wind abaft the beam three blasts in succession.
(d.) A vessel, when at anchor, shall, at intervals of not more than 1 minute, ring the bell
rapidly for about 5 seconds.
(e.) A vessel, when towing, a vessel employed in laying or in picking up a telegraph cable, and a vessel under way, which is unable to get out of the way of an approaching vessel through being not under command, or unable to manœuvre as required by these Rules shall, instead of the signals prescribed in sub-divisions (a) and (c) of this Article, at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, sound three blasts in succession, viz.: one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. A vessel towed may give this signal and she shall not give any other.
Sailing-vessels and boats of less than 20 tons gross tonnage shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals, but if they do not, they shall make some other efficient sound-signal at
intervals of not more than 1 minute.
Speed of Ships to be Moderate in Fog, &c.
ART. 16. Every vessel shall, in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain-storms, go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing circumstances and conditions.
A steam-vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, the fog-signal of a vessel the position of which is not ascertained, shall, so far as the circumstances of the case admit, stop her engines, and then navigate with caution until danger of collision is over.
Steering and Sailing Rules. Preliminary-Risk of Collision.
Risk of collision can, when circumstances permit, be ascertained by carefully watching the compass bearing of an approaching vessel. If the bearing does not appreciably change, such risk should be deemed to exist.
ART. 17.
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, viz. :-
(a.) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close
hauled.
(b.) A vessel which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a vessel
which is close-hauled on the starboard tack.
(c.) When both are running free, with the wind on different sides, the vessel which has the
wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other.
(d.) When both are running free, with 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. (e.) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of the other vessel.
ART. 18. When two steam vessels are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to starboard, so that each may pass on the port side of the other.
This Article only applies to cases where vessels are meeting end on, or nearly end on, in such a manner as to involve risk of collision, and does not apply to two vessels which must, if both keep on their respective courses, pass clear of each other.
The only cases to which it does apply are when each of the two vessels is end on, or nearly end on, to the other; in other words, to cases in which, by day, each vessel sees the masts of the other in a line, or nearly in a line, with her own; and, by night, to cases in which each vessel is in such a position as to see both the side-lights of the other.
It does not apply, by day, to cases in which a vessel sees another ahead crossing her own course; or by night, to cases where the red light of one vessel is opposed to the red light of the other, or where the green light of one vessel is opposed to the green light of the other, or where a red light without a green light, or a green light without a red light, is seen ahead, or where both green and red lights are seen anywhere but ahead.
ART. 19. When two steain-vessels are crossing, so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.
ART. 20. When a steam-vessel and a sailing-vessel are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam-vessel shall keep out of the way of the sailing-vessel.