2.1.4 International standards for the prevention of collisions at sea

The pneumatic whistle (trumpet) installed on board the yacht adequately meets the requirements of the regulations against collisions at sea (Colreg 1972). Below is an excerpt from the “Rules for the prevention of collisions at sea”.

• Application (Rule No. 1): These Regulations apply to all ships on the high seas and in all communicating waters accessible to maritime navigation.
• Responsibility (Regulation No. 2): Nothing in these rules shall relieve a ship, the Owner or the crew itself of the consequences of any negligence in the application of the rules.
• Definitions (Rule No. 32):
  –“Short sound” means a sound lasting approximately one second;
  — “Prolonged sound” means a sound lasting from four to six seconds.
• Warning and operating signals (Rule No. 34):
  – a short sound “I’m going to starboard”;
  – – two short sounds “I’m going to the left”;
  – – – three short sounds “I go back with the machines”;
  — — – two long sounds and a short one “I intend to pass you on the straight side”;
  — — – – two long sounds and two short “I’m going to overtake you on the left side”;
  — – — – one long, one short, one long and one short sound “is fine for overtaking”;
  – – – – – five short sounds “I have doubts about the manoeuvre”;
  — a prolonged sound “ship approaching a channel elbow”;;
  — a prolonged sound ‘ship responding to previous signal’.
• Signs in conditions of reduced visibility (Rule No. 35 and No. 37):
  — a prolonged sound at intervals of two minutes ‘ship propelled by mechanical means in a speedboat’;
  — — two prolonged sounds at two-second intervals, repeated every two minutes, “ship propelled mechanically under way, with machinery stationary and without rudder”;
  — – – one prolonged and two short beeps at two-minute intervals “ship steering rough or having difficulty manoeuvring or towing”;
  — – – – one prolonged and three short sounds at two-minute intervals ‘last towed yacht sounding in response to the tugboat’;
  – — – a short, long and short sound ‘ship at anchor’ means its position as approaching ship with risk of collision;
  – – – – – five seconds of continuous sound at one-minute intervals “yacht at anchor indicating its position”;
  – – – three short sounds in rapid succession “signalling a stranded ship”;
  – – – – four short sounds “pilot ship in service”;
  ———— a continuous sound “danger and need for help”.