Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed
so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision
and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances
and conditions.
In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be among
those taken into account:
(a) By all vessels:
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(i) the state of visibility;
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(ii) the traffic density including concentrations
of fishing vessels or any other vessels;
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(iii) the manoeuvrability of the vessel with special
reference to stopping distance and turning ability in the prevailing
conditions;
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(iv) at night the presence of background light
such as from shore lights or from back scatter of her own lights;
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(v) the state of wind, sea and current, and the
proximity of navigational hazards;
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(vi) the draught in relation to the available
depth of water.
(b) Additionally, by vessels with operational
radar:
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(i) the characteristics, efficiency and limitations
of the radar equipment;
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(ii) any constraints imposed by the radar range
scale in use;
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(iii) the effect on radar detection of the sea
state, weather and other sources of interference;
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(iv) the possibility that small vessels, ice and
other floating objects may not be detected by radar at an adequate
range;
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(v) the number, location and movement of vessels
detected by radar;
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(vi) the more exact assessment of the visibility
that may be possible when radar is used to determine the range of
vessels or other objects in the vicinity.