Rule 3 covers the various definitions. I think if something struck a rig in DP the person deciding the whys and wherefores would be dressed in a red robe with a grey wig in your case. At issue is whether a pipe constitutes being fast to the bottom .
Me, if I was there, I would prefer to be in the spectator part of the court.
Well, the COLREGS define “The word “underway” means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.”
So, if a DP unit is attached to the pipe which is affixed to the bottom, they are not underway because they are made fast to shore.
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It’s not as simple as that, drill ships aren’t at anchor, they’re not fast to the shore and they’re not aground, so they must be underway.
the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or wide river:
The Colregs have only had relatively minor updates since the 1980s, but they are probably due a major update to clarify all the ambiguities stemming from the offshore and dynamic positioning sector since then.
They are not made fast just because the drill pipe is down hole. What would happen if their propulsion went down?
Deepwater Horizon all over again?
Ok, so what about a FPSO on a turret buoy?
I would think that counts as being moored since they’re on a mooring buoy.
Yup. Didn’t think that one out did I?
0.1 kts? Are you talking about the speed at which the vessel is making corrective movements to hold position? No. That is not a vessel making way.
If you plow said vessel, it will be your fault. Every time. Unless you are DP’ing next to him. Then all bets are off.
Easy Peasy, just give room and avoid them altogether no matter what the various interpetation of the rules are. Cover your ass. Ain’t that hard people. Are you in that much of a hurry that you can’t alter your course a bit to save yourself a giant ass headache because you are right and the other guy is wrong?
Convenient site for rules in searchable form here:
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea - Wikisource, the free online library
RAM in includes:
- (i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable or pipeline;
- (ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;
A vessel picking up a pipeline practically speaking is probably no more able to get out way than a vessel at anchor but it’s not realistic to expect a precise 1 to 1 relationship between the written rules and what vessels actually encounter. The map is not the terrain as they say.
A mariner can’t get into the minutiae of the rules in a risk of collision situation, need to apply good seamanship at all times.
In the event of a collision the courts are going to do the same thing. Start with good seamanship and then apply the applicable rules.
I agree in general but the question in the OP is wrt the (presumably) encumbered vessel.
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In Australian waters, the North Sea, and if my memory serves me right ,the GOM, the areas around rigs etc are closed to navigation. Hit anything and you would be looking for a new career.
Rule 1 & and the all encompassing rule 2 cover everything else and with that he pulled the comforter over his head and moved into the lee of bum island…
In almost all cases a vessel on DP and holding position is making way, if they weren’t they would be drifting and not holding position. In order to hold a 0.0 kt SOG you’re basically guaranteed to have a STW > 0.0 kts.
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This is a distinction without a difference. For these purposes, SOG is what matters. Anything else strains the definition of “Making Way”, which may be thought of as “making progress” through the water.
Generally speaking, vessels that are ‘underway, not making way’ are drifting with their engines off. That is a huge difference in ability to avoid collision than a vessel on DP that has all engines and thrusters on in order to hold position. (I realize that a vessel doesn’t NEED to have it’s engines off to be ‘not making way’ but that’s the most common occurrence and what the rule envisions.)
Not at all. Why would it? The exact text of the rules and what a court would decide after an incident are what matters in this academic discussion.
That’s STW not SOG.
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When you do your 6 minute radar plot, the DP vessel will be in precisely the same location. No course and no speed. Not making way.
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That means dead in the water and drifting so would not apply to a DP vessel.
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