International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) are intended to ensure the safety of vessels at sea by precluding situations that might lead to collisions. When the IRPCAS right-of-way rules replace the rules of Part 2, they effectively prohibit a right-of-way boat from changing course towards the boat obligated to keep clear when she is close to that boat.
Summary of the Facts
At about 0030, L and W were running on starboard tack on parallel courses about
two hull lengths apart. W was to windward and clear astern of L and steadily
closing up on her. The sailing instructions had, between sundown and sunrise,
replaced the rules of Part 2 with the IRPCAS right-of-way rules. L changed course
to starboard, forcing W to respond in order to avoid a collision. W protested
L on the grounds that ‘luffing was forbidden at night’. The protest
committee upheld the protest under the IRPCAS, Part B, Section II, Rule 17.
L appealed on the grounds that the protest committee had misapplied the relevant
IRPCAS rules.
Decision
IRPCAS Rule 13(a) states that ‘any vessel overtaking any other shall keep
out of the way of the vessel being overtaken’, and Rule 13(b) states,
‘A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with another
vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, in such
a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she
would be able to see only the sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.’
In the above case W was the overtaking vessel. Rule 13(d) states, ‘Any
subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not . . .
relieve [the overtaking vessel] of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken
vessel until she is finally past and clear.’
The overtaken vessel, in this case L, has obligations towards the overtaking
vessel. These are in Rule 17, which states in part, ‘Where one of two
vessels is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed.’
It is this rule that prohibits the racing manoeuvre known as ‘luffing’
while the boats are so close that L’s luff forces W to change course to
avoid contact. Therefore, L’s appeal is dismissed and the protest committee’s
decision to penalize her is upheld.
CYA 1976/32