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UF4E13E0.book Page 20 Friday, April 27, 2018 2:35 PM

Safety information

Give-way vessel meeting vessel must alter course to avoid
The vessel which does not have the right-of- each other.
way has the duty to take positive and timely
action to stay out of the way of the stand-on
vessel. Normally, you should not cross in
front of the vessel with the right-of-way. You
should slow down or change directions brief-
ly and pass behind the other vessel. You
should always move in such a way that the
operator of the other vessel can see what you
are doing.
The General Prudential Rule regarding the
right-of-way is that if a collision appears un- Meeting
avoidable, neither boat has the right-of-way. If you are meeting another power-driven ves-
Both boats must avoid the collision. sel head on, and are close enough to run the
In other words, follow the standard rules ex- risk of collision, neither of you has the right-
cept when a collision will occur unless both of-way. Both of you should alter course to
vessels try to avoid each other. If that is the avoid an accident. You should keep the other
case, both vessels become give-way ves- vessel on your port (left) side. This rule does
sels. not apply if both of you will clear one another
Rules when encountering vessels if you continue on your set course and speed.
There are three main situations that you may
encounter with other vessels which could
lead to a collision unless the Steering Rules
are followed:
Meeting: you are approaching another vessel
head-on
Crossing: you are traveling across another
vessel’s path
Overtaking: you are passing or being passed
by another vessel
In the following illustration, your watercraft is Crossing
in the center. You should give the right-of- When two power-driven vessels are crossing
way to any vessels shown in the white area each other’s path close enough to run the risk
(you are the give-way vessel). Any vessels in of collision, the vessel which has the other on
the shaded area must yield to you (they are the starboard (right) side must keep out of the
the give-way vessels). Both you and 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, remem-
ber that you should maintain course and di-

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