1. These rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.

2. Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate authority for road steads, harbors, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall conform as closely as possible to these Rules.

3. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the Government of any State with respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to additional station or signal lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorized elsewhere under these rules.

4. Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules.

5. Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to the number, position, range, arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signaling appliances, such vessel shall comply with such other provisions in egard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signaling appliances, as her Government shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect of that vessel.

General Definitions

For the purpose of these Rules, except where the context otherwise requires:

(a) The word ‘vessel’ includes every description of water crafts, including non displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

(b) The term ‘power-driven vessel’ means any vessel propelled by machinery.

(c) The term ‘sailing vessel’ means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

(d) The term ‘vessel engaged in fishing’ means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restricy maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability.

(e) The word ‘seaplane’ includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water.

(f) The term ‘vessel not under command’ means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

(g) The term ’vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre’ means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The term ‘vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre’ shall include but not be limited to:

1. a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable or pipeline;

2. a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;

3. a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway;

4. a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;

5. a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;

6. a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course;

(h) The term ‘vessel constrained by her drought’ means a power driven vessel which, because of her drought in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water, is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following.

(i) The word ‘underway’ means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

(j) The words ‘length’ and ‘breadth’ of a vessel means her length overall and greatest breadth.

(k) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.

(l) The term ‘restricted visibility’ means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.