4. The term "vessel engaged in fishing" in this Law means any vessel (except a vessel which falls under "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver") fishing with nets, lines or other fishing apparatus which restrict maneuverability.

10. The word "length" in this Law means length overall of a vessel.

　

A vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway (herefter referred to as "narrow channel, etc.") shall keep as near to the outer limit of the channel, etc. which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable. However, this shall not apply to the cases where the Paragraph 2 of Article 10 is applicable.

2. A power-driven vessel underway (except a vessel engaged in fishing; the same in the Paragraph 6 of Article 10 and the Paragraph 1 of Article 18) shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel in a narrow channel, etc. Howerer, this does not mean that the sailing vessel may impede the passage of a power-driven vessel which can navigate only within the narrow channel, etc..

3. A vessel underway (except a vessel engaged in fishing; the same in the Paragraph 7 of Article 10) shall keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing in a narrow channel, etc. However, this does not mean that the vessel engaged in fishing may impede the passage of any other vessel navigating within the narrow channel, etc..

4. In a narrow channel, etc., when overtaking can take place only if the vessel to be overtaken has to take action to permit safe passing, the overtaking vessel under the Paragraph 2 or 3 of Article 13 shall indicate her intention of overtaking by sounding the appropriate signal on the whistle. In this case, the vessel to be overtaken shall, if in agreement, sound the appropriate signal on the whistle to indicate the agreement and take steps to permit safe passing of the overtaking vessel.

　

When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows: However, this shall not apply to the cases where the Paragraph 3 of Article 9, the Paragraph 7 of Article 10 or the Paragraph 2 or 3 of Article 18 is applicable.

　

Notwithstanding other provisions of this Law, any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken until she is finally past and clear.

2. A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam (at night, in such a position that she would be able to see neither of the sidelights under the Paragraph 2 of Article 21 of the vessel).

3. When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that she is overtaking.

　

When two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other. However, this shall not apply to the cases where the Paragraph 3 of Article 9, the Paragraph 7 of Article 10 or the Paragraph 1 or the Paragraph 3 of Article 18 shall be applicable.

2. Such a situation as provided in the preceding Paragraph shall be deemed to exist when a power-driven vessel sees the other power-driven vessel ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the two masthead lights under the item (1) of Paragraph 1 of Article 23 of the other in a line or nearly in a line or both sidelights under the item (2) of the same Paragraph and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

3. When a power-driven vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation as provided in the Paragraph 1 exists, she shall assume that it does exist.

　

When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

2. The proviso of the Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article shall mutatis mutandis apply to the cases where two power-driven vessels under preceding Paragraph are crossing.

　

Except where the Paragraph 2 and the Paragraph 3 of Article 9, and the Paragraph 6 and the Paragraph 7 of Article 10 otherwise require, a power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of the following vessels:

2. Except where the Paragraph 3 of Article 9 and the Paragraph 7 of Article 10 otherwise require, a sailing vessel underway shall keep out of the way of the following vessels:

3. A vessel engaged in fishing when underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of the following vessels:

　

2. A sailing vessel of less than 7 meters in length when underway shall, if practicable, exhibit sidelights and in addition exhibit a stern-light as nearly as practicable at the stern, but if she does not exhibit these lights or the three-color lantern under the following Paragraph, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

3. A sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length when underway may exhibit, instead of sidelights and a stern light, a three-color lantern (a light consists of red, green and white sectors, whose red and green sectors have the same characteristics as those of the sidelights and white sector has the same chatracteristics as those of the stern-light, to be placed over the center line of the vessel) at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

5. A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights for the sailing vessels under each of the preceding paragraphs, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collisions.

　

A vessel not under command (except the vessels to which the Paragraph 4 or the Paragraph 7 of Article 24 are applicable; hereafter the same in this Paragraph) shall exhibit lights or shapes in accordance with the following; however, a vessel not under command of less than 12 meters in lengh when underway needs not exhibit the lights and shapes:

　

The word "whistle" in this Law means any sound signalling appliance capable of producing the short blasts and prolonged blasts prescribed in this Law.

　

6. A vessel nearing a bend or an area of a narrow channel, etc. where other vessels may be obscured by an intervening obstruction shall sound one prolonged blast on her whistle. Such signal shall be answered with a prolonged blast by any approaching vessel that may be within hearing around the bend or behind the intervening obstruction.

　

In or near an area of restricted visibility, signals shall be used by vessels in accordance with the following eleven paragraphs:

4. A sailing vessel, a vessel engaged in fishing, a vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver, a vessel constrained by her draft (except a vessel being towed by another power-driven vessel) and a power-driven vessel engaged in towing or pushing another vessel shall, when underway, sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts.

　

Steering and sailing rules to be observed concerning the prevention of collisions between vessels, exhibition of lights and shapes, signaling and other matters relating to vessel operations which are provided for by the Port Regulations Law (Law No. 174 of 1948) or the Maritime Traffic Safety Law (Law No. 115 of 1972) shall conform to the provisions of the Laws.

2. Steering and sailing rules to be observed concerning the prevention of collisions of seaplanes, exhibition of lights and shapes, signalling and other matters relating to operations in the waters fixed by the Cabinet Order may be subject to exceptional rules to be provided by the Cabinet Order.

3. The station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals under (c) of Rule 1 of the International Regulations; or the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, or the disposition and characteristics of sound - signalling appliances under (e) of the Rule (referred to as "special matters" in the following Paragraph) may be subject to exceptional rules provided by the Ministry of LIT Ordinance.

4. In a case where a foreign state which is a contracting party to the Convention has made special rules on special matters and a vessel of the foreign nationality under (c) or (e) of Rule 1 of the International Regulations conforms to the special rules, the provisions of this Law or orders under this Law corresponding to the special rules shall not apply to the vessel.