The steering and sailing rules are changing with the development of available sources of information. This latest development is of special interest, as radar navigation has prompted a return to the principles of the ‘Larboard Helm Rule’ -if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change, each of the vessels involved shall alter course so as to place herself to the right of the line of compass bearing o t the approaching vessel’.

This rule offered simple sailing instructions: each party to an encounter was required to take action. There was no stand-on vessel and no right of way. Our modern steering and sailing rules are based on the right of way of the vessel on the starboard side and this gives rise to difficulties unknown in the days of the larboard helm rule:

(i) There are two vessels on collision course, one large and slow-acting, the other small and manoeuvreable; the smaller vessel can easily take avoiding action. As, however, she is approaching from starboard she is the stand-on vessel. The large vessel, though restricted in her ability to manoeuvre is thus obliged to take avoiding action.

(ii) The officer on the bridge of the stand-on vessel recognizes risk of collision. The navigator on the bridge of the burdened vessel is distracted from his duty of keeping a proper look-out. Our existing rules require avoiding action on the part of the vessel that has not recognized the risk of collision.