Ref. T2-OSS/2.7.1 MSC/Circ.1144
13 December 2004
1 TheMaritimeSafetyCommittee,atitsseventy-ninthsession(1to10December2004),noted thatRule1(e)oftheInternationalRegulationsforPreventingCollisionsatSea,1972,asamended, allowsthat“whenevertheGovernmentconcernedshallhavedeterminedthatavesselofspecial constructionorpurposecannotcomplyfullywiththeprovisionsofanyoftheseRuleswithrespectto number,position,rangeorarcofvisibilityoflightsorshapes,aswellastothedispositionand characteristicsofsound-signallingappliances,suchvesselshallcomplywithsuchotherprovisionsin regardtonumber,position,rangeorarcofvisibilityoflightsorshapes,aswellastothedisposition oncharacteristicsofsound-signallingappliancesasherGovernmentshallhavedeterminedtobethe closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect of that vessel.”
2 TheCommitteealsonotedthatreportsreceivedfrommariners,indicatethatdifficultieshave beenencounteredatseaatnight,indeterminingtheaspectofanapproachingvesselparticularlyon reciprocalornearreciprocalcourseswhenthetwomastheadlightsoftheothervesselarenot positioned on the centre line of the vessel.
3 TheCommitteefurthernotedthatthiscouldleadtotheship'sofficerarrivingatawrong decision as to whether the risk of collision exists or not; particularly taking into account that Rule 14(b)providesthat“suchasituationshallbedeemedtoexistwhenavesselseestheother aheadornearlyaheadandbynightshecouldseethemastheadlightsoftheotherinalineornearly inalineand/orbothsidelightsandbydaysheobservesthecorrespondingaspectoftheothervessel”.
4 This circular complements the guidance provided in MSC/Circ.473 of 18 May 1987.
5 MemberGovernmentsareinvitedtotakeintoaccountthepotentialproblemposedtoother vessels,whenevertheygrantexemptionsunderRule1(e)andtodosoonlyinveryextraordinary circumstances. Financial aspects should not be a consideration for granting exemption.