E

Rules when encountering

 

 

Meeting

vessels

 

 

 

If you are meeting another power vessel

 

 

head on, and are close enough to run the

 

 

 

There are three main situations that you

may encounter with other vessels

 

 

risk of collision, neither of you has the right-

which

 

 

 

of-way! Both of you should alter course to

could lead to a collision unless the Steering

Rules are followed:

 

 

avoid an accident. You should keep the

 

 

other vessel on your port (left) side. This

 

 

 

Meeting: you are approaching another

vessel head-on

 

 

rule does not apply if both of you will clear

 

 

one another if you continue on your set

Crossing: you are traveling

 

 

across

another vessel’s path

 

 

course and speed.

 

 

 

 

 

Overtaking: you are passing or being

 

 

passed by another vessel

 

 

 

 

 

In the following illustration, your watercraft

 

 

is in the center. You should give the right-of-

 

 

way to any vessels shown in the white area

 

 

(you are the give-way vessel). Any vessels

 

 

in the shaded area must yield to you (they

 

 

are the give-way vessels). Both you and the

 

 

meeting vessel must alter course to avoid

 

 

each other.

 

 

Crossing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When two power-driven vessels are

 

 

 

crossing each other’s path close enough to

 

 

 

run the risk of collision, the vessel which has

 

 

 

the other on the starboard (right) side must

 

 

 

keep out of the way of the other. If the other

 

 

 

vessel is on your starboard (right) side, you

 

 

 

must keep out of its way; you are the give-

 

 

 

way vessel. If the other vessel is on your

 

 

 

port (left) side, remember that you should

 

 

 

maintain course and direction, provided the

 

 

 

 

 

other vessel gives you the right-of-way as it

 

 

 

should.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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