Virginia Watercraft Owner's Guide

Navigation Rules

Overview

Most boating accidents are the result of collision, either between two vessels, or between a vessel and a fixed or submerged object. For this reason, boat operators are cautioned to follow the established Navigation Rules, especially maintaining a proper lookout and safe speed.

The boat operator is responsible for knowing and following all of the applicable navigational rules. Copies of the rules may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (202) 512- 1800. The stock number is 050-012-00192-8. On the Web at: http://www.uscg.mil/vtm/navrules/navrules.pdf.

  • Right Side = Starboard
  • Left Side = Port

Head-on (bow to bow)

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 (right) so that each shall pass on the port side of the other. A head-on situation exists 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 nearly in a line or both sidelights.

Give-way and Stand-on Vessels

"Give-way" means every vessel directed to keep out of the way of another vessel must, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

"Stand-on" means when one of two vessels is to keep out of the way, the other (stand-on) shall keep course and speed, except however, the stand-on vessel may take action to avoid collision by maneuvering alone, as soon as it becomes apparent that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action as required and may take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.

If the stand-on vessel must take action to avoid a collision, it must avoid turning to port for a vessel on her port side.

An action taken to avoid a collision needs to be positive, made in ample time and large enough to be apparent to the other vessel. A succession of small alterations of course or speed is to be avoided. If necessary to avoid a collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel must slacken her speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing engines.

If there is any doubt as to whether or not a risk of collision exists, always default to the risk existing. In determining if risk of collision exists, take the following considerations into account; such a risk exists if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change and that such risk may sometimes exist even when the appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a very large vessel or a tow or when approaching a vessel at close range.

Power boats must "stay out of the way" of a sailing vessel regardless of the angle the power-driven vessel approaches the sailing vessel.

Crossing

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 (in front) of the other vessel.

When taking action to stay out of the way, make it early, substantial and well clear of the other boat. Avoid making a succession of small alterations of course or speed. If you are directed by the Rules to stay out of the way, then make your turn large and obvious so as to be readily apparent to another vessel both visually or by radar. This is especially true at night, when the only visual indication of your course change is the alteration of your boat's lights.

Overtaking

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

When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether it is overtaking another, it shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly.

If you are being overtaken (passed), you need to maintain your course and speed. The vessel overtaking you should notify an intent to pass by making an appropriate sound signal. One short blast of the horn or whistle means "I intend to overtake you on your starboard side" and 2-short blasts means "I intend to overtake you on your port side".

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 vessel with the wind on the port side sees a 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 is deemed to be the side opposite to that on which the mainsail is carried.

Restricted Visibility

The following rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility:

Proceed at a Safe Speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. A power-driven vessel shall have engines ready for immediate maneuver.

A vessel which detects by radar alone the presence of another vessel shall determine if a close-quarter situation is developing or risk of collision exists. If so, take avoiding action in ample time, provided that when such action consists of an alteration of course, so far as possible the following shall be avoided:

An alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken; or

An alteration of course toward a vessel abeam (to the side) or abaft (behind) the beam.

Except where it has been determined that a risk of collisions does not exist, every vessel which hears apparently forward of her beam the fog signal of another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close-quarter situation with another vessel forward of her beam, shall reduce her speed to the minimum at which she can be kept on course. She shall if necessary take all way off (slow down or stop) and in any event, navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over.

Sound Signals for Restricted Visibility

Whistle means any sound producing device capable of producing a blast.

  • Short Blast = a blast of about 1 second.
  • Prolonged Blast = a blast of 4-6 seconds duration.

In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the following sound signals shall be made:

  • Power-driven vessel making way through the water — one prolonged blast at least once every 2 minutes.
  • A power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes two prolonged blasts in succession with an interval of about 2 seconds between them.
  • Sailing vessel, whether underway or at anchor, shall sound one-prolonged blast followed by two-short blast at least once every 2 minutes.

Responsibility Between Vessels

Except where otherwise required:

A power-driven vessel shall keep out of the way of:

  • A vessel not under command;
  • A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver;
  • A vessel engaged in (commercial) fishing;
  • A sailing vessel.

A sailing vessel shall keep out of the way of:

  • A vessel not under command;
  • A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver;
  • A vessel engaged in (commercial) fishing.

Departure From Regulations to Avoid Immediate Danger

In obeying and construing the navigation rules, due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigating and collision and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from these rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. When, from any cause the vessel required to keep its course and speed finds itself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, the operator shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision. This action does not relieve the give-way vessel of its obligation to keep out of the way. The give-way vessel is that vessel required to take early and substantial action to keep well away from other vessels by stopping, slowing or changing course.

Narrow Channels

In narrow channels, the operator of every vessel shall, when it is safe and practicable, keep to that side of the fairway or mid-channel which lies on the right side of such vessel. The operator of a vessel under 65.6 feet in length underway, fishing or at anchor in narrow channels shall not interfere with the passage of large, deep-draft vessels that can safely navigate only inside such channels.

Exoneration

No operator is exonerated from the consequences of any neglect to carry and display navigation lights as required by law; or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the neglect of any reasonable precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of good seamanship or by the special circumstances of the case. A full copy of the Navigation Rules (PDF), published by the US Coast Guard, is available at the USCG's Web site (PDF) or by contacting the Government Printing Office.