Question of the Week
WWII Merchant Mariners
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| Rules of the Road: RAM Towing |
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This week's question (actually three questions) comes from the Rules of the Road bank and pertains to vessels engaged in towing, severely restricted in their ability to maneuver. The crux of the question is an easily overlooked "(a)." Vessels Engaged in Towing & Restricted in Ability to Maneuver (#370, #371 & #4369 -- Book 1)
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| #370 (1) | (Inland Only) If a towing vessel and her tow are severely restricted in their ability to deviate from their course, they may show lights in addition to their towing identification lights. These additional lights shall be shown if the tow is __________. |
| A. |
Pushed ahead |
| B. | Towed alongside |
| C | Towed astern |
| D. | Any of the above |
Answer: D
| #371 (1) |
(International Only) If a towing vessel and her tow are severely restricted in their ability to deviate from their course, they may show lights in addition to their towing identification lights. These additional lights shall be shown if the tow is ________________________. |
| A. | A. Pushed ahead |
| B. | B. Towed alongside |
| C. | C. Towed astern |
| D. | D. Any of the above |
Answer: C
These two questions used to appear as one in examinations. The question had a "Both International & Inland Rules" header because in the past the Coast Guard felt both sets of Rules spoke as one on this subject. But that interpretation has changed because of a small parenthesis in Rule 27.
Ordinarily, a vessel engaged in towing is considered a "power-driven vessel." However in Rule 3, both International & Inland Rules state that "a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from course" may be regarded as a "Vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuver."
Rule 27 describes the lights and shapes for "Vessels Restricted in Ability to Maneuver." Paragraph 27(c) of the International Rules states:
A power-driven vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course shall, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 24(a), exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (b)(i) and (ii) of this Rule. [Emphasis added.]
Rule 24(a) of the International Rules describes the lights and shapes shown by a vessel engaged in towing astern. By implication, these lights are mandatory on a towing vessel must be towing astern in International.
By contrast, Rule 27(c) Inland says:
A vessel engaged in a towing operation which severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course shall, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (b)(i) and (ii) of this Rule, exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in Rule 24. [Emphasis added.]
As far as the Inland Rules are concerned, any kind of towing operation -- ahead, alongside, astern -- MUST be considered Restricted in Ability to Maneuver, if the operation severely restricts the vessel in ability to deviate from course. International only requires a vessel engaged in towing to be considered Restricted in Ability to Maneuver when the problematic tow is astern.
But a new question has been added that straddles the two sets of Rules by means of a "MAY."
| #4369 (1) |
(Both International & Inland) If a towing vessel and her tow are severely restricted in their ability to deviate from their course, they may show lights in addition to their towing identification lights. These additional lights MAY be shown if the tow is __________________________. [Emphasis added.\ |
| A. | A. Pushed ahead |
| B. | B. Towed alongside |
| C. | C. Towed astern |
| D. | D. Any of the above |
Answer: D
To recap: Vessels engaged in towing astern in International, and pushing ahead, towing alongside or towing astern in Inland, SHALL add the lights for a vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuver to her towing lights when the towing vessel and her tow are severely restricted in their ability to deviate from their course. Vessels pushing ahead or towing alongside in International MAY add the lights for a vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuver when the towing vessel and her tow are severely restricted while towing ahead or alongside. 'May' bridges "Both International & Inland." 'Shall' applies everywhere in Inland and only towing astern in International.
It is confusing.
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