Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 250 - OREGON STATE MARINE BOARD › Division 11 - STEERING AND SAILING RULES › Section 250-011-0220 - Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or
				night, the signals prescribed in this rule shall be used as follows:
(1) A power-driven vessel making way through
			 the water shall sound at intervals of not more than two minutes one prolonged
			 blast.
(2) A power-driven vessel
			 underway but stopped and making no way through the water shall sound at
			 intervals of not more than two minutes two prolonged blasts in succession with
			 an interval of about two seconds between them.
(3) A vessel not under command; a vessel
			 restricted in its ability to maneuver, whether underway or at anchor; a sailing
			 vessel; a vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor; and a
			 vessel engaged in towing or pushing another vessel shall, instead of the
			 signals prescribed in section (1) or (2) of this rule, sound at intervals of
			 not more than two minutes, three blasts in succession; namely, one prolonged
			 followed by two short blasts.
(4)
			 A vessel towed or if more than one vessel is towed the last vessel of the tow,
			 if manned, shall at intervals of not more than two minutes sound four blasts in
			 succession; namely, one prolonged followed by three short blasts. When
			 practicable, this signal shall be made immediately after the signal made by the
			 towing vessel.
(5) When a pushing
			 vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite
			 unit they shall be regarded as a power-driven vessel and shall give the signals
			 prescribed in section (1) or (2) of this rule.
(6) A vessel at anchor shall at intervals of
			 not more than one minute ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. In a
			 vessel of 100 meters or more in length the bell shall be sounded in the
			 forepart of the vessel and immediately after the ringing of the bell the gong
			 shall be sounded rapidly for about five seconds in the after part of the
			 vessel. A vessel at anchor may in addition sound three blasts in succession;
			 namely, one short, one prolonged and one short blast, to give warning of its
			 position and of the possibility of collision to an approaching vessel.
(7) A vessel aground shall give
			 the bell signal and if required the gong signal prescribed in section (6) of
			 this rule and shall, in addition, give three separate and distinct strokes on
			 the bell immediately before and after the rapid ringing of the bell. A vessel
			 aground may in addition sound an appropriate whistle signal.
(8) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length
			 shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals but, if it does not,
			 shall make some other efficient sound signals at intervals of not more than two
			 minutes.
(9) A pilot vessel when
			 engaged on pilotage duty may in addition to the signals prescribed in section
			 (1), (2) or (6) of this rule sound an identity signal consisting of four short
			 blasts.
(10) The following vessels
			 shall not be required to sound signals as prescribed in section (6) of this
			 rule when anchored in a special anchorage area designated by the United States
			 Secretary of Transportation:
(a) A vessel of
			 less than 20 meters in length; and
(b) A barge, canal boat, scow, or other
			 nondescript craft.