ascertained shall so far as the circumstances of the case admit stop her engines and then navigate with caution until danger of collision is over. 38. All steam and sailing vessels when in the fairway of the river and not under way shall at intervals of about one minute ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. This Rule applies to all vessels at anchor, or made fast to the shore or aground.1 A vessel at anchor out of the fairway must also ring her bell.2 The fairway of the Thames is not confined to that part of the channel which is marked by buoys. It includes all that part of the river inshore of the buoys which is navigable for vessels of moderate draught. Accordingly a barge which was anchored above and inside the West Blyth buoy was held to be in the fairway.3 See also Deptford Bye-law 7, ante, p. 139. 39.-When two steam vessels are in sight of each other and are approaching with risk of collision the following steam signals shall be intimations of the course they intend to take : (a) One short blast of the steam whistle of about one second's duration to mean-"I am directing my course to starboard." (b) Two short blasts of the steam whistle each of about one second's duration to mean "I am directing my course to port." (c) Three short blasts of the steam whistle each of about two seconds' duration to mean-"My engines are going full speed astern." 40.-When a steam vessel in circumstances other than those mentioned in Bye-law 36 is turning round or for any reason is not under command and cannot get out of the way of an approaching vessel or when it is unsafe or impracticable for a steam vessel to keep out of the way of a sailing vessel she shall signify the same by four blasts of 1 See Bye-law 4, definition of "under way." 2 See Bye-law 36 (d). 3 The Blue Bell, [1895] P. 242; 7 Asp. M. C. 601. the steam whistle in rapid succession each blast to be of about one second's duration. A vessel which on coming to an anchor, or on getting under way, has to turn round, must give the four-blast signal on the whistle on or before commencing to turn.' When a steam vessel blows four blasts to a sailing vessel, it is a prudent course for the sailing vessel to take steps to get out of the way of the steam vessel, because it is impossible for a sailing vessel to form an opinion of what the circumstances are which have brought the steamer into the position in which she gives that signal. 41.-A vessel coming out of dock shall signify the same by a prolonged blast of the steam whistle of not less than four seconds nor more than six seconds' duration except in the case of a vessel coming out of the St. Katharine's Dock requiring the bascules of the Tower Bridge to be raised in order to get into position in the river which shall signify the same by a prolonged blast of the steam whistle of not less than five seconds' duration followed by three short blasts in rapid succession. In the case of a vessel not under steam the tug boat in attendance shall make the foregoing signals. A vessel dropping up the river at night stern foremost in order to go into dock should keep a look-out astern, and should, when a vessel is seen coming down, give such a signal as will enable the down-coming vessel to avoid her.3 Sound Signals for Vessels in Sight of one another. 42.-The words "short blast" used in this Bye-law shall mean a blast of about one second's duration. When vessels are in sight of one another a steam vessel under way in taking any course authorized or required by these Bye-laws shall indicate that course by the following signals on her whistle viz. : One short blast to mean "I am directing my course to starboard." 1 The New Pelton, [1891] P. 258; 7 Asp. M. C. 81; The Wega, [1895] P. 156. 2 The Longnewton (1888), 6 Asp. M. C. 302, per Lord Hannen, p. 304. Two short blasts to mean "I am directing my course to port." Three short blasts to mean "My engines are going full speed astern." 43. The signals by whistle mentioned in the preceding Bye-laws shall not be made by means of a siren or any instrument other than an ordinary steam whistle or other efficient sound signal previously approved by the Conservators and shall not be used on any occasion or for any purpose except those therein mentioned and no other signal by whistle or sound signal shall be made by any vessel. Steering and Sailing. 44.— Word for word the same as Article 17 of the Collision Regulation 1897. (Ante, p. 41.) 45.—If a sailing vessel and a steam vessel are proceeding in such a direction as to involve risk of collision the steam vessel shall keep out of the way of the sailing vessel. Steam vessels must pay particular attention to sailing vessels beating to windward, as the latter, when they have stood as close to the shore as prudent, are entitled to go about without warning vessels of their intentions. A steamer should know, from the position of the sailing vessel, that she may go about at any moment.1 Steam vessels must also get out of the way of dumb barges and other craft driving with the tide. 46.-When two steam vessels or two steam launches proceeding in opposite directions the one up and the other down the river are approaching each other so as to involve risk of collision they shall pass port side to port side. If the two vessels are proceeding in such a way that if they keep to their respective courses they will come so near each other as to cause risk of collision, they must obey this Rule and manœuvre so as to pass each other port to port.3 47.-Steam vessels navigating against the tide shall before rounding the following points viz. Coalhouse 1 The Palatine (1872), 1 Asp. M. C. 469. Point Tilburyness Broadness Stoneness Crayfordness Cold Harbour Point Jenningtree Point Halfway House Point or Crossness Margaretness or Tripcock Point Bull Point or Gallionsness Hookness and Blackwall Point wait until any other vessels rounding the point with the tide have passed clear. Lord Blackburn, in a case of a vessel rounding Blackwall Point, said:" You begin to round when there is so much curving and rounding of the river that the vessels going down the river begin to turn round the land, they then begin to round, and when they have come so far down that the curving of the river ceases, and they begin to go straight, they then cease to round.”1 The vessel which has to wait must do so until the other vessel has passed clear of her. The vessels must pass each other port to port, as directed by Rule 46. 48.-Steam vessels and steam launches crossing from one side of the river towards the other side shall keep out of the way of vessels navigating up and down the river. A vessel which is turning in the river on the same side as that on which she is being navigated is not a crossing vessel within the meaning of this Rule, even though when athwart part of her owing to her length may be across the line of mid-channel. If for the purpose of turning she moves from one side of the river to the other, she comes within this Rule, and she continues within this Rule until she has got straight up or down the river on the side to which she intended to go. The crossing is not completed although she may have got her stem as near to the opposite shore as she can safely get it if she is still athwart the stream.* If a vessel on getting under way has to work across the river in order to get on her course she is within this Rule, and must get out of the way of vessels navigating up and down the river. 49.-Every steam vessel and steam launch when approaching another vessel so as to involve risk of collision shall slacken her speed and shall stop and reverse if neces sary. 50.-Steam vessels and steam launches navigating against the stream above Richmond Lock shall ease and 1 The Margaret (1884), 5 Asp. M.C. 372. 2 Per Lord Esher in The Libra (1881), 6 P. D. p. 145. 3 The John Hollway, [1900] P. 37. The River Derwent (1891), 7 Asp. M. C. 37. 5 The Schwan (1889), 6 Asp. M. C. 409. M. U if necessary stop to allow vessels coming down with the stream to pass clear particularly when rounding points or sharp bends in the river. 51.-Steam launches navigating above Richmond Lock shall where the channel or depth of water permits be navigated in mid-river. 52.-Every vessel overtaking another vessel shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel which latter vessel shall keep her course. Every vessel coming up with another vessel from any direction more than two points abaft her beam ie. in such a position with reference to the vessel which she is overtaking that at night she would be unable to see either of that vessel's side lights shall be deemed to be an overtaking vessel and no subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall relieve the overtaking vessel of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear. As by day the overtaking vessel cannot always know with certainty whether she is forward or abaft this direction she shall if in doubt assume she is an overtaking vessel and keep out of the way. 53.-Where by the above Bye-laws one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed. It must be noted that by Rule 49, if the vessels are approaching with risk of collision their speed shall be slackened, and their engines shall be stopped and reversed if necessary. Lights required above Teddington Lock. 54. Every steam vessel and steam launch shall when navigating in or above Teddington Lock carry and exhibit the following lights and no other; that is to say: (a) On or before the foremast or if there be no foremast on the funnel or on a staff at the bow in either case at a height above the hull of not less than |