Safe speed: Rule 6

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:

1. (i) the state of visibility;
2. (ii) the traffic density including concentrations of fishing vessels or any other vessels;
3. (iii) the manoeuvrability of the vessel with special reference to stopping distance and turning ability in the prevailing conditions;
4. (iv) at night, the presence of background light such as from shore lights or from back scatter of her own lights;
5. (v) the state of wind, sea and current, and the proximity of navigational hazards;
6. (vi) the draught in relation to the available depth of water.

(b) Additionally, by vessels with operational radar:

1. (i) the characteristics, efficiency and limitations of the radar equipment;
2. (ii) any constraints imposed by the radar range scale in use;
3. (iii) the effect on radar detection of the sea state, weather and other sources of interference;
4. (iv) the possibility that small vessels, ice and other floating objects may not be detected by radar at an adequate range;
5. (v) the number, location and movement of vessels detected by radar;
6. (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.