Safe navigation and avoidance of dangerous situations
1 The master and the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall plan and conduct each voyage to keep their ship clear of obstructions to navigation and, dangerous shoals, and take due notice of relevant nautical information. To this end, they shall make appropriate use of the navigational systems and equipment at their disposal. When receiving ice warnings or in dangerous weather, the master and the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall take such measures as necessary to avoid dangers, particularly to the safety of the persons on board, and to the safety of navigation or to the marine environment. *
2 The owner, chatterer, or manager of a ship or any other person, shall not prevent or restrict the master of the ship from taking or executing any decision which, in the master's professional judgement, is necessary for safe navigation and protection of the marine environment.
* This regulation may be reviewed in the context of a new regulation on voyage planning, other instruments and chapter VIII of the STCW Code, Part A.
