The meeting or head-on situation often receives brief treatment in nautical treatises due to the common perception that it presents little danger to the vessels involved. However, the meeting scenario presents a unique set of challenges that the prudent mariner must consider.
The overtaking situation is generally regarded as a type of vessel encounter presenting the least risk to the vessels involved. This is primarily due to the fact that, in contrast to crossing and head-on situations, overtaking often involves low relative speeds between the vessels, resulting in a more slowly developing situation that the mariner is better able to appreciate, analyze and react to.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) will, from time to time on an as needed basis, issue policy letters intended to inform the public of the USCG’s views on various subject areas. These policy letters attempt to convey current and…
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) first established uniform minimum international standards for seafarers in 1978. The Manila Amendments to STCW were adopted on June 25, 2010, and entered into force on Jan.…
