Seaman's Handbook
Part A - General : Application
(a) These rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected
therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.(b) Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an
appropriate authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected
with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall conform as
closely as possible to these rules.(c) Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the
Government of any State with respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle
signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to additional
station or signal lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These
additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistles shall, so far as possible, be such that
they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorised elsewhere under these
rules.(d) Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organisation for the purpose of these
rules.(e) Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special
construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provision of any of these rules with
respect to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the
disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, without interfering with the
special function of the vessel, such vessel shall comply with such other provisions in regard to
the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition
and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as her Government shall have determined
to be the closest possible compliance with these rules in respect to that vessel.
