8/4/2019 Passage v Safe Passage

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/passage-v-safe-passage 1/2

Passage v Safe Passage

8 (f) (i) A vessel which, by any of these Rules, is required not to impede thepassage or safe passage of another vessel shall, when required by the

circumstances of the case, take early action to allow sufficient sea-room for thesafe passage of the other vessel.

RulePassage

Safe PassageNavigating Safely Navigate

9 b

<20m or sailing vessel

(leisure craft) - a vesselwhich can safelynavigate only within anarrow channel or

fairway

9 c

engaged in fishing -any other vesselnavigating within anarrow channel orfairway

9 d

A vessel shall not crossa narrow channel orfairway if such crossingimpedes the passage of 

a vessel which cansafely navigate onlywithin such channel orfairway

10 iengaged in fishing -any vessel followinga traffic lane

10 j

<20m, sailing vessel (leisure

craft) - a power-driven

vessel following a trafficlane

18 d

Any vessel other than NUC

or RAM - shall avoidimpeding the safe passageof a vessel constrained byher draught

8/4/2019 Passage v Safe Passage

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/passage-v-safe-passage 2/2

From a website

Hello,

Do I understand the concept of passage and safe passage?

===== Impeding Passage=====

Not to impede the passage of a vessel means that there are no exceptions what so ever.

***** For example, I am a PDV proceeding in a TSS with a vessel engaged in fishing crossing frommy port side, bearing steady. *****

Action: I maintain course and speed. Still no action from the fishing vessel, I sound 5 short + rapid

blasts, man on the wheel, inform the Captain. Still no action, I make a bold alteration of course to

Stbd and parallel her course, then inform the VTS.

===== Impeding Safe Passage=====

Safe passage is conditional. I have a sailing vessel crossing from my stbd side, bearing steady.

Action: If it was safe to do so and I deemed there to be sufficient sea room after a full appraisal of 

the situation, I would give way for her by sounding 1 short blast, altering to stbd, passing well cleararound her stern and then I'd monitor until finally past and clear.

However; if it was not safe to do so and I had a vessel on my starboard quarter, I cannot give way to

the sailing vessel on my stb side. Therefore she is impeding my safe passage, so I must maintain my

course and speed. If the bearing is still steady and no action is taken by her, then I must sound 5

short and rapid blasts, man on the wheel and inform the Master and take appropriate action.

===============

Can any Masters or Mates help with this please?

Thank you for you time.

Hi,

This almost identical question was asked by one of my classmates when I was back at college, the

answer we were given was that they are the same thing. The discrepancy arises due to some of therules (apparently) originally being written in French, and during the translation ‘safe passage’ was

introduced in random places. (I can’t actually confirm this as being 100% accurate though).

The reason I believe it is true though is as follows;

COLREGs only apply where there is a risk of collision, therefore if risk of collision exists I am sure you

will agree that your safe passage is impeded. If a vessel impedes your passage she is also impeding

your safe passage? (I am finding this hard to explain any better). Also under Rule 8, passage and

safe passage are defined together as requiring the same action to be taken regardless of which is

the case.

As in your explanation above;

Rule 10: Part i; A fishing vessel, engaged in fishing within a TSS should not impede the passage of ANY vessel following the traffic lane. Therefore if she does impede your passage you should take

appropriate action under Rule 8. (Be careful about saying inform VTS in your Orals).

Rule 10: Part j; A sailing vessel will not impede the safe passage of a PDV following a traffic lane.

Assuming you are a PDV following the lane, the sailing vessel should NOT cross ahead of you if there

is a risk of collision. Initially sound 5 short blasts and notify the master. If situation does not change

take action necessary to safely pass the sailing vessel (alter to port/starboard or reduce / increase

speed) - remember rule 15 only applies to PDV.

I can’t find the ships copy of COLREGs so I quoted from memory so they might not be exact wordingsof the rules and I might have got the wrong paragraph letters.