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Navigation Rules

The "Rules of the Road" or Collision Avoidance Regulations (COLREGS) were designed to give direction to vessels in order to set a standard that everyone could follow in order to prevent collisions of two or more vessels. They are many in number and cover almost every imaginable sequence of events which may lead to collision. You do not have to memorize them all but be aware of the basic rules which apply in order to operate safely on the water. You will be using terms when dealing with the rules of the road which may be unfamiliar to you. Because the rules are federal laws, the definitions of these terms are important. The following terms are found throughout the rules of the road. You should have a thorough understanding of their meaning.

Disclaimer: The navigation rules of the road contained in this course summarize basic navigation rules for which a boat operator is responsible. Additional and more in-depth rules apply regarding various types of waterways and operation in relation to commercial vessels and other watercraft. It is the responsibility of a boat operator to know and follow all the navigation rules.

A navigation rule can be overlooked if necessary to avoid immediate danger .

For a complete listing of the navigation rules, refer to the document "Navigation Rules of the Road" published by the U.S. Coast Guard (COMDTINST 16672.2 Series) and available through the U.S. Government printing office or on the web at http://www.uscg.mil/vtm/navrules/navrules.pdf. For State Specific navigation requirements, refer to the state laws where you intend to boat.

Except where noted the following definitions apply to both International and Inland Rules:

Vessel - Every craft of any description used or capable of being used on the water.

Power Driven Vessel (Motorboat) - Any vessel propelled by machinery.

Sailing Vessel - Any vessel under sail alone with no mechanical means of propulsion. (A sailboat propelled by machinery is a Motorboat.)

Vessel engaged in fishing means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restrict maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability.

Seaplane includes any aircraft designed to maneuver on the water .

Underway- Not at anchor, aground or attached to a dock or the shore.

Vessels are in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.

Restricted visibility means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sand storms or any other similar causes.

The following two definitions apply to Inland Rules Only.

Western Rivers means the Mississippi River, its tributaries, South Pass, and Southwest Pass, to the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States, and the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route, and that part of the Atchafalaya River above its junction with the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route including the Old River and the Red River

Great Lakes means the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters including the Calumet River as far as the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock and Controlling Works (between mile 326 and 327), the Chicago River as far as the east side of the Ashland Avenue Bridge (between mile 321 and 322), and the Saint Lawrence River as far east as the lower exit of Saint Lambert Lock

The following rule about responsibility is somewhat confusing if you are not a student of the rules. Just read them and I’ll explain what they mean after each one. This rule applies to both International and Inland rules.

Responsibility: Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

Means: If something happens, such as a collision, everyone is at fault.

In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

Means: This is commonly referred to as the “Gotcha Rule” Basically it means if you are in danger you are obligated to ignore the rules to prevent collision.

Additional definitions included in the Rules of the Road:

Danger Zone - An arc of 112.5 degrees measured from dead ahead to just aft of the starboard beam.

Stand-On Vessel - The vessel that should maintain course and speed.

Give-Way Vessel - The vessel that must take early and substantial action to keep clear of the stand-on vessel.

Visible (when applied to lights) - Visible on a dark, clear night.

Vessel not under command means a vessel that through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver as required by the Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver means a vessel which, from the nature of her work, is restricted in her ability to maneuver as required by the Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel .

Vessel constrained by draft means a power-driven vessel that, because of her draft in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following.

Length and Breadth of a vessel means her length overall and greatest breadth.

Secretary means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

Inland Waters means the navigable waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational emarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States and the waters of the Great Lakes on the United States side of the International Boundary; Inland Rules or Rules mean the Inland Navigational Rules and the annexes thereto, which govern the conduct of vessels and specify the lights, shapes, and sound signals that apply on inland waters.

International Regulations means the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, ncluding annexes currently in force for the United States.

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