Question of the Week
WWII Merchant Mariners
Don't forget the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act" (S961 & HR23). This legislation needs to be acted upon soon if it is to have any significance. For more information as well as links to Representatives, go to www.usmm.org.
Merchant Mariner Credential
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If you have questions about qualifying for the new Merchant Mariner Credential, please contact us.
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| Privilege Schmivilege: Rules of the Road |
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 The only purpose of the Rules of the Road is to prevent collisions. To this end, the COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) as well as the Inland Rules require constant vigilance, encouraging vessels to take early action to avoid situations involving even the risk of collision. But as this is not always possible, the Rules further require that should risk of collision develop, the vessels involved must assume carefully specified roles. When there are two vessels, in sight of one another, with risk of collision, and except where the two vessels are power-driven meeting head-on, one vessel is assigned the role of the "give-way" vessel, the other is the "stand-on."
These two vessels used to go by different names. The "give-way" vessel was called the "burdened" vessel, the "stand-on, the "privileged." But largely because of misleading connotations, those terms have been abandoned. Instead, the "give-way" vessel is required to keep out of the way of the "stand-on," whose job is to hold course and speed. There is no "privilege" in the stand-on's role. As assigned by Rule 17, she has the nail-biting, angst-inducing obligation to hold course and speed, at least long enough to determine that the "give-way" is not taking appropriate action. The Responsibility of the Stand-On Vessel
Answer: C Whether a crossing situation between two power-driven vessels (as described here) or any other situation involving two vessels in sight with risk of collision, the "stand-on" vessel must maintain course and speed. Stand-on:
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| #403 | Which vessel is the stand-on vessel when two vessels crossing in fog are NOT in sight of one another? |
| A. | The vessel which has the other on her own starboard side |
| B. |
The vessel which has the other on her own port side |
| C. |
The vessel which hears the other vessel's fog signal first |
| D. |
Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel |
Answer: D
A stand-on vessel must be in sight of the other vessel.
When "May" the Stand-On Vessel Take Action
| #4008 | If you are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation, you may take action to avoid collision by your maneuver alone. When may this action be taken? |
| A. | At any time you feel it is appropriate |
| B. |
Only when you have reached extremis |
| C. |
When you determine that your present course will cross ahead of the other vessel |
| D. |
When it becomes apparent to you that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action |
Answer: D
Again this is true in any situation which would require a stand-on and a give-way vessel. If risk of collision exists, then the vessel designated the stand-on vessel must hold course and speed at least to the point at which she determines the give-way has not taken appropriate action.
When "Must" ("Shall") the Stand-on Take Action
| #4055 | The rules require that a stand-on vessel SHALL take action to avoid collision when she determines that ________. |
| A. | risk of collision exists |
| B. |
the other vessel will cross ahead of her |
| C. |
the other vessel is not taking appropriate action |
| D. |
collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel's maneuver alone |
Answer: D
The stand-on may not take action at any time that risk of collision exists. She may take action after having held course and speed long enough to determine the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. If it gets to the point, however, that action by the give-way vessel alone is not sufficient to avoid collision if the stand-on keeps holding course and speed, then she must not continue to hold course and speed.
In the News
In the News
Collisions, groundings, piracy, rescues -- bad things, inexplicable things and, as in the freeing of Capt. Richard Phillips, very good things happen. Here is our record of such events as they come to our attention. Read More On the Quarter
On the Quarter
Barbecues in LaPaz? Flags of Convenience? Is 'acronym' an acronym? We are pretty sure our ruthlessly inquisitive father was born to blog, so we've invited him to do it here, in "On the Quarter." Read More
National Maritime Center
National Maritime Center
The National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is the US Coast Guard's processing center for all mariner licensing and credential transactions. The website provides information for new mariners, continuing mariners, returning mariners -- license and STCW requirements, applications, policy and guidance. It also enables the mariner to check on the status of his or her pending application. Read More
Regulation Watch
Regulation Watch
Mariners increasingly find themselves beset by regulations from a variety of sources. We will try to alert you here to significant changes (proposed and enacted) to maritime laws, affecting licensing requirements, examination procedures and documentation requirements as found in the Federal Register, USCG Navigation and Inspection Circulars (NVICs), Policy and Guidance Statements. Read More
Towing Licenses
Obtaining a Towing License
Over the last several years there have been significant changes in the licensing requirements for operators of towing vessels. It used to be that licenses authorizing operation on inspected vessels would satisfy the requirements for most towing vessels of lesser or equal tonnage. This is no longer the case. There are now several ways to become an officer on a towing vessel, ranging from the entry level Apprentice Steersman to service-in-training while holding a previously issued license. Read More