GermanShippingLaw

Updated 12/2009

Part One
General provisions

Section  1 Area of application
Section  2 Definitions
Section  3 Basic rules for conduct in traffic
Section  4 Responsibility
Section  5 Signs and signals for navigational purposes
Section  6 Visual signs and sound signals of vessels
Section  7 Vessels in the Public Service

Part Two
Visual signs and sound signals of vessels

Section  8 General
Section  9 Use of navigation lights and sound-signalling appliances
Section 10 Small vessels
Sections 11 through 18 [suspended]

Part Three
Sound signals of vessels

Sections 19 and 20 [suspended]

Part Four
Sailing rules

Section 21 Basic principles
Section 22 Exceptions from the requirement to proceed on the starboard side of a fairway
Section 23 Overtaking
Section 24 Head-on situations
Section 25 Right of way of ships in a fairway
Section 26 Speed
Section 27 Towing and pushing
Section 28 Passage of bridges and flood barriers
Section 29 Entering and leaving locks
Section 30 Bans and restrictions affecting navigation
Section 31 Water-skiing, towing of gear for water-sports, jetbiking, kite- and wind-surfing

Part Five
Stationary traffic

Section 32 Anchoring
Section 33 Berthing and mooring
Section 34 Cargo-handling operations
Section 35 Anchoring, berthing, mooring, and sailing past by and of vessels carrying certain dangerous goods
Section 36 Handling of certain dangerous goods

Part Six
Miscellaneous provisions

Section 37 Conduct in the event of marine casualties and of objects being lost
Section 38 Fishing and hunting
Section 39 Sailing schedules of passenger vessels and ferries crossing a river or canal
Section 40 [suspended]

Part Seven
Supplementary provisions relating to the Kiel Canal

Section 41 Area of application
Section 42 Admission for passage
Section 43 Reporting in for, and out from, passage throughthe Kiel Canal
Section 44 [suspended]
Section 45 Traffic in the approaches to the Kiel Canal
Section 46 Right-of-way regulations for vessels entering or leaving locks
Section 47 Ban on entering or leaving locks
Section 48 Minimum safe distances between vessels
Section 49 Conduct of vessels in front of, and in, sidings
Section 50 Sailing rules for vessels exempt from compulsory pilotage and for composite units
Section 51 Sailing rules for pleasure craft
Section 52 [suspended]
Section 53 Navigating and mooring on the Gieselaukanal
Section 54 [suspended]

Part Eight
Competences and responsibilities of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration

Section 55 Shipping police authorities
Section 55a Vessel Traffic Services centres (VTS centres)
Section 56 Shipping police orders
Section 57 Shipping police permits
Section 58 Shipping police reports
Section 59 Exemptions
Section 60 Authorization to issue shipping police notices and ordinances

Part Nine
Provisions on administrative fines and on matters of competence

Section 61 Administrative offences
Section 62 (Entry into force; Cancellation and revocation of sundry rules and regulations)

Annex I
Signs and signals for navigational purposes

Section I – Visual signs

A. Requirements and prohibitions (26 entries)
B. Warnings and advice (17 entries)

Section II – Sound signals
6 entries

Annex II Visual signs and sound signals of vessels

II.1 Visual signs of vessels (16 entries)
II.2 Sound signals of vessels (8 entries)