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UF4R13E0.book Page 17 Friday, March 31, 2023 1:54 PM

Safety information

Give-way vessel
The vessel which does not have the right-of-
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. Meeting
The General Prudential Rule regarding the If you are meeting another power-driven ves-
right-of-way is that if a collision appears un- sel head on, and are close enough to run the
avoidable, neither boat has the right-of-way. risk of collision, neither of you has the right-
Both boats must avoid the collision. of-way. Both of you should alter course to
In other words, follow the standard rules ex- avoid an accident. You should keep the other
cept when a collision will occur unless both vessel on your port (left) side. This rule does
vessels try to avoid each other. If that is the not apply if both of you will clear one another
case, both vessels become give-way ves- if you continue on your set course and speed.
sels.
Rules when encountering vessels
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 Crossing
by another vessel When two power-driven vessels are crossing
In the following illustration, your watercraft is each other’s path close enough to run the risk
in the center. You should give the right-of- of collision, the vessel which has the other on
way to any vessels shown in the white area the starboard (right) side must keep out of the
(you are the give-way vessel). Any vessels in way of the other. If the other vessel is on your
the shaded area must yield to you (they are starboard (right) side, you must keep out of
the give-way vessels). Both you and the its way; you are the give-way vessel. If the
meeting vessel must alter course to avoid other vessel is on your port (left) side, remem-
each other. ber that you should maintain course and di-
rection, provided the other vessel gives you
the right-of-way as it should.

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