Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel

Rule 3 (a)

Every water craft including:

Non-displacement craft
WIG craft
Seaplanes
Used or capable of being used as a means of
transportation on water
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Rule 3 - General definitions

Types of Vessels
Every description of water craft used as a means of
transportation on water
Merchant vessels
Pleasure craft
Large and small vessels
Fast or slow vessels
Non-conventional vessels

Dredgers
Non-displacement craft
Seaplanes
Dredgers
Etc.

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Vessel propelled by machinery

Vessel capable of using her machinery
immediately
Vessel using her own machinery (e.g. not that of
a tug)

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

General Cargo Ship

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Oil Tanker

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Oil Tanker
- VLCC
Oil Tanker - VLCC
Oil
Tanker
Tanker
--VLCC
-VLCC
VLCC
OilOil
Tanker

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Bulk carrier

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Gas tanker

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

LNG Tanker

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Chemical Tanker

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Chemical Tanker

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Handymax Bulker

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Ore Carrier

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Container Ship

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Fruit Ship

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Car Carrier

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Heavy Lift Carrier

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Large Motor Yacht

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Small Motor Yacht

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Navy Ships

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Hovercraft

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Power-driven vessel

Rule 3 (b)

Jetfoil

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Sailing vessel

Rule 3 (c)

Vessel propelled by sails

If fitted with an engine, engine may not be
running at all (even with propeller not engaged)

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Sailing vessel

Rule 3 (c)

Sailing Vessel

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Sailing vessel

Rule 3 (c)

Small Sailing Yacht

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Sailing vessel

Rule 3 (c)

Large Sailing Yacht

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Rule 3 (d)

Vessel engaged in fishing

When fishing with apparatus restricting her
manoeuvrability

Vessel NOT engaged in fishing

Fishing with trolling lines or other apparatus not
affecting the manoeuvrability
Pole and line fishing vessels
Yachts fishing with short lines
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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

At sea, the main fishing vessels encountered

are:
Side trawlers
Beam trawlers
Stern trawlers
Drift net fishers
Seine net fishers
Long line fishers
For details on fishing methods, see Rule 26

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

Side Trawler

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

Stern Trawler

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

Russian Factory Trawler

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

Beam Trawler

Beam Trawler

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

Drift Net Fishing

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

Longline

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel NOT engaged in fishing

Rule 3 (d)

Trolling

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Seaplane

Rule 3 (e)

Seaplane

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Seaplane

Rule 3 (e)

Seaplane
Seaplane

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Rule 3 (f)

Vessel not under command

Through exceptional circumstance

Unable to manoeuvre
As required by the Rules
Unable to keep out of the way

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel not under command (NUC)

Rule 3 (f)

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Rule 3 (f)

Vessel entirely not under command

Engine breakdown
Rudder breakdown
Sailing vessel that has become becalmed
Etc.

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel not under command (NUC)

Rule 3 (f)

Vessel on Fire

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel not under command (NUC)

Rule 3 (f)

Vessel on Fire

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Rule 3 (f)

Vessel partially not under command

Difficulty in keeping the course due to adverse
weather
Forced to heave to secure cargo which has
begun to move
Etc.

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel not under command (NUC)

Rule 3 (f)

NUC in heavy weather

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel not under command (NUC)

Rule 3 (f)

Yacht NUC in heavy weather

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Rule 3 (g)

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre

Vessel which from the nature of her work:
Is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
As required by the Rules and
Is unable to keep out of the way

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Rule 3 (g)

Examples

Buoying or beacon ships

Lighthouse tenders
Cable ships
Dredgers
Survey vessels
Salvage vessels
Supply vessels
Aircraft-carriers in operation
Mineclearence ships
Towing vessels unable to deviate from her course
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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (i)

Buoying or Beacon Ship

Buoy and Beacon Ship

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (i)

Buoyage or Beacon Vessel

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (i)

Lighthouse Tender

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (i)

Cable Layer

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (i)

Pipe-Laying Vessel

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Research Vessel
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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
DREDGING

Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly

underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering
up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location
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The main types of dredgers are:
Bucket dredgers
Trailing suction hopper dredgers
Cutter suction hopper dredgers
Split hopper dredgers
Backhoe dredgers
Stone dumping and Fallpipe vessels
Floating cranes
Reclamation dredgers

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Suction Dredger
A stationary dredger used to mine
for sand. The suction pipe is pushed
vertically into a sand deposited. If
necessary water jets help to bring
the sand up. It is loaded into
barges or pumped via pipeline
directly to the reclamation area

Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger

A self propelled ship which fills its
hold or hopper during dredging,
while following a pre-set track. The
hopper can be emptied by o bottom
doors or valves (dumping) or by
pumping its load ashore. This kind
of dredger is mainly used in open
water: rivers, canals, estuaries and
the open sea.

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Cutter Suction Dredger

A stationary dredger which
makes use of a cutter head to
loosen the material to be
dredged. It pumps the dredged
material via a pipeline ashore or
into barges. While dredging the
cutter head describes arcs and is
swung around the spudpole
powered by winches. The cutter
head can be replaced by several
kinds of suction heads for special
purposes, such as environmental
dredging.

Reclamation Dredger
A stationary dredger used to
empty hopper barges. A suction
pipe is lowered into the barge.
Extra water can be added by
water by water jets to facilitate
the suction process. The dredged
material is pumped by pipeline
ashore, to a reclamation area, or
to a storage depot.

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Bucket Dredger

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Bucket dredgers raise bottom sediments to the surface. The buckets are
attached to a chain and graded according to size (200 to 1,000 litres). Bucket
dredgers are held in place by anchors. These days, this classic vessel is
mainly used on environmental dredging projects. ([Link]/
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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger

Rule 3 (g) (ii)

A hopper dredger is a self propelled ship which fills its hold or hopper during
dredging, while following a pre-set track. The hopper can be emptied by bottom
doors or valves (dumping) or by pumping its load ashore. This kind of dredger is
mainly used in open water: rivers, canals, estuaries and the open sea.

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Trailing Suction Dredger

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Cutter Dredger
Cutter Hopper Dredger

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Split Hopper Dredgers

Rule 3 (g) (ii)

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Backhoe Dredger

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Cutter Suction Dredger

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Split Barge

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Grab Dredger

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

D.P. Side Stone Dumping Vessel

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Water Injection Dredger

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Lifting Vessel

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Fallpipe Vessel

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (ii)

Underwater Operations

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (iii)

Vessels Engaged in Replenishment

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (iii)

Transferring persons

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (iii)

Transferring Provisions or Caqrgo

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (iv)

Launching or Recovery of Aircraft

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (v)

Mine Clearance Operations

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
Rule 3 (g) (vi)

Difficult Towing Operation

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel constrained by her draught

Rule 3 h

Power-driven vessel
Draught in relation to water depth restricts her
manoeuvrability
Not applicable to sailing vessels

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel constrained by her draught

Rule 3 (h)

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel Underway

(Rule 3 (I))

Not at anchor
Not made fast to the shore
Not aground

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel at anchor is NOT Underway

Rule 3 i

Vessel at Anchor

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel made fast to the shore is NOT
Underway Rule 3 i
Vessel Moored

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessel aground is NOT Underway

Rule 3 i

Verssel Aground

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Underway and:
Making way though the water
Moving with regard to the water (vessel can be
stopped with regard to the bottom when there is
current)

Not making way through the water

Stopped with regard to the water (vessel can move
with regard to the bottom when there is current)
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Rule 3 - General definitions

Conclusion
A vessel can be:
Not underway
Underway and making way through the water
Underway and not making way through the water

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Underway and not making way through the
water

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Length and breadth of a vessel

(Rule 3 j)

LOA = Length over all

Beam = Breadth

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Vessels in sight of one another

(Rule 3 k)

When one can be observed visually from the other

It doesnt apply to vessels observing one another on the
radar

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Restricted visibility

Rule 3 (k)

Visibility restricted by:

Fog
Mist
Falling snow
Heavy rainstorm
Sandstorms or
Any other similar cause

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Restricted visibility

Rule 3 (l)

Fog - Mist

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Restricted visibility

Rule 3 (l)

Visibility restricted on Sb-side

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Restricted visibility

Rule 3 (l)

Snowstorm

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Restricted visibility

Rule 3 (l)

Rainstorm

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Restricted visibility

Rule 3 (l)

Rainstorm

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Restricted visibility

Rule 3 (l)

Sandstorm

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Rule 3 - General definitions

Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft

Rule 3 (m)

Multimodal craft
Flying in close proximity to the surface
Utilizing surface-effect action

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Rule 3 - General definitions

WIG-craft

Rule 3 (m)

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