Rules for Ships

Only if you wanted to know where you are, if other ships are in the area, and where you are going.

Look for "maritime rules and regulations", by using a search engine.

There are rules for every aspect of seaworthiness...they vary according to port of call and registration, class of ship, intended use etc etc....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigational_instrument

Well, yes. The Captain's Licence and indemnity insurance cover will depend upon them being present.

Did those Brazilian barges built to Mississippi Standards ever float?

Perhaps the Costa Concordia should have had them?

Or, a competent captain, who stayed with his ship until all his passengers were off.

Shortly after the Costa Concordia incident, someone dug up a quote from Sir Winston Churchill. I don't recall the the exact wording but the meaning was Sir Winston always traveled on Italian ships, they didn't have the rule "women and children first".

But, captains OK.

A trend has started, unfortunately. The Korean ferry captain also abandoned his passengers to die.

You got it right, but it was meant as a joke:-

From "The Wit and Wisdom of Winston Churchill" by James C. Humes:

Late in his life, Sir Winston took a cruise on an Italian ship. A journalist from a New York newspaper approached the former prime minister to ask him why he chose to travel on an Italian line when the Queen Elizabeth under the British flag was available.

Churchill gave the question his consideration and then gravely replied: "There are three things I like about Italian ships. First, their cuisine, which is unsurpassed. Second, their service, which is quite superb. And then - in time of emergency - there is none of this nonsense about women and children first."

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/humor/jokes/cruiseship.asp#r62byCcPEjGbF7I3.99

An equally old joke:

Q: Why does the Pope, when leaving an aircraft after a flight, always kiss the ground?

A: Well, wouldn't you, if you've just flown Alitalia?

Also good!!

Interesting question. Depends on the "ship". At one time there were "carriage" requirements, meaning the ship must carry charts, for the areas traversed. As of 2014 the US has stopped printing charts. They rely on chart plotters and GPS to determine location. Again, there is a difference for private, charter boats and cruise ships. There are certain types permitted and possibly required for each type of vessel. Many of the low end chart plotters are nothing more than scanned versions of the old paper charts. More advanced and expensive are completely redefined digital renditions. They are periodically updated with corrected "Notice to Mariners". Again read the disclaimer with the unit you wish to purchase. If it states "not to be used for navigational purposes" it can't be used on a Cruise ship. It is similar to the "placemats" you sometimes get at seaside restaurants. they work fine for the average boater, but are not "certified". When the extreme accuracy of GPS came forth, it was discovered that many of the old charts were not as accurate as previously thought. New charts had to be created to account for the changes.

The "Captains" license course requires the RADAR to be active if it is operational. Meaning that binoculars "should" be carried. Don't know if it is a requirement, but am checking on it.

are you in the 1800's?

Red right returning.

Port = left; starboard = right.

Red at night, sailors delight; red in morning, sailors take warning.

Yield to traffic in sector from 0 to 120 degrees.

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

YES! The exact extent of the rules are mostly defined by each country having juristictrion of the relevant waters. For international travel there is aloso regulations laid out by IMO - International Maritime Organization. For recreational vessels under 20 meters in lenght in North America the rules are remarkably lax. Not so in most of the rest of the world. For details consult the coast Guard of each relevant country.

The Survey Class (ABS, Lloyds etc..), Flag State (Country of registration) and IMO

(International Maritime Organisation) rules always apply.

I find it interesting to note many replies apply only to recreational boats not to ships which is what the original question dealt with. One of my clients had his yacht built overseas but with American registry. I had to ensure my design complied with the relevant standards of the country in which the yacht was built as well as with Lloyds of London construction standards who provided the insurance once the vessel was built