Navigation Rules

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STEERING & SAILING RULES for clear, daylight hours

NARROW CHANNELS

• Keep near to outer limit of channel or fairway which lies on vessel's starboard side;
• A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

AVOIDANCE OF ANCHORING IN NARROW CHANNELS

Every vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case permit, avoid anchoring in a narrow channel.

SAILING VESSELS - KEEPING OUT OF THE WAY

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:

when each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other; when both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward; and if a sailing vessel with the wind on the port side sees another sailing vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or on the starboard side, she shall keep out of the way of the other.

Windward side The windward side shall be deemed to be the side opposite to that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.	Windward - Keep out of the way
	Stand-on

OVERTAKING

Any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

Overtaking vessel defined:

• When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly
• Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessels within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear

HEAD-ON SITUATION - actions between two power-driven vessels

Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses (head-on, bow to bow) 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. Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or see both sidelights (or both red and green bow lights are visible). When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.

Western Rivers and Great Lakes waters – A power-driven vessel operating on the Western Rivers and Great Lakes waters and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right of way over an upbound vessel. The term right of way applies ONLY on Western Rivers and Great Lakes waters.

CROSSING SITUATION

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

Western Rivers and Great Lakes waters – a power-driven vessel crossing a river shall keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel ascending or descending the river.

RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN VESSELS

A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel. For situations where a power-driven vessel (not constrained by draft, etc.) encounters a sailing vessel, the “head-on” and “crossing” rules do not apply because the sailing vessel is the stand-on vessel whenever being approached by a power-driven vessel. The power-driven vessel must take early and substantial action to stay well clear and out of the sailing vessel’s way, regardless of the angle of approach.

ACTION BY GIVE-WAY VESSEL

Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel (give-way vessel) shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear. When staying out of the way, or acting as a give-way vessel, make your course changes large and obvious.

NOTE - Do not make small incremental changes, as the other vessel may not clearly see your course change and therefore not know your intentions. This is especially true at night when the only visible part of your vessel may be the navigation lights.

ACTION BY STAND-ON VESSEL

Stand-on vessel to keep course and speed; action allowed when give-way vessel fails to take appropriate action

• Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed (stand-on vessel). The stand-on vessel may, however, take action to avoid collision by her maneuver alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance with these Rules.
• When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds itself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, it shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.

MANEUVERING AND WARNING SIGNALS

“Short Blast” means a blast of about 1 second duration.
“Prolonged Blast” means a blast of from 4 to 6 seconds duration.

Whistle signals

When power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and meeting or crossing at a distance within half a mile of each other, each vessel underway, when maneuvering as authorized or required by these Rules:

• Shall indicate that maneuver by the following signals on her whistle: one short blast to mean ''I intend to leave you on my port side''; two short blasts to mean ''I intend to leave you on my starboard side''. If in agreement, the other vessel shall sound the identical signal. If in doubt, sound the danger signal of 5 or more rapid blast in quick succession.
• When a power-driven vessel is leaving a dock or berth, she shall sound one prolonged blast.
• When a power-driven vessel is operating astern (reverse) propulsion, she shall sound three short blasts.

Overtaking situations

When in sight of one another, a power-driven vessel intending to overtake another power-driven vessel shall indicate her intention by the following signals on her whistle: one short blast to mean I intend to overtake you on your starboard side''; two short blasts to mean ''I intend to overtake you on your port side''; and (ii) the power-driven vessel about to be overtaken shall, if in agreement, sound a similar sound signal. If in doubt she shall sound the danger signal (see definition below)

Doubts or failure to understand signals

When vessels in sight of one another are approaching each other and from any cause either vessel fails to understand the intentions or actions of the other, or is in doubt whether sufficient action is being taken by the other to avoid collision, the vessel in doubt shall immediately indicate such doubt by giving at least five short and rapid blasts on the whistle. This signal may be supplemented by a light signal of at least five short and rapid flashes.

SOUND SIGNALING DEVICES

All vessels of less than 39.4 feet/12 meters in length shall be provided with some means of making an efficient sound signal.