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11 Chapter 3 ■ Navigation Rules ... Traffic Laws of the Waterways Collisions can be prevented easily if every vessel operator fulfills three major responsibilities. 1) Practice good seamanship. It is the responsibility of every boat or PWC operator to take all necessary action to avoid a collision, taking into account the weather, vessel traffic, and limits of other vessels. Such action should be taken in ample time to avoid a collision and at a safe distance from other vessels. 2) Keep a proper lookout. Failing to keep a sharp lookout is the most common cause of collisions. Every operator must keep a proper lookout, using both sight and hearing, at all times. Watch and listen for other vessels, radio communications, navigational hazards, and others involved in water activities. 3) Maintain a safe speed. Safe speed is the speed that ensures you will have ample time to avoid a collision and can stop within an appropriate distance. Safe speed will vary depending on conditions such as wind, water conditions, navigational hazards, visibility, surrounding vessel traffic density, and the maneuverability of your boat or PWC. Always reduce speed and navigate with extreme caution at night and when visibility is restricted. Encountering Other Vessels There are rules that every operator must follow when encountering other vessels. ◆ Two terms help explain these rules. • Give-way vessel: The vessel that is required to take early and substantial action to keep well away from other vessels by stopping, slowing down, or changing course. Avoid crossing in front of other vessels. Any change in course and/or speed should be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel. (A series of small changes should be avoided.) • Stand-on vessel: The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. If you must take action, do not turn toward the give-way vessel or cross in front of it. ◆ The action a vessel operator should take when encountering another vessel depends on the answers to two questions. • How are the two vessels propelled? - Two power-driven vessels - Two sailing vessels - A power-driven vessel and a sailing vessel • How are the two vessels approaching one another? - Meeting head-on: A vessel operator sees another vessel ahead or nearly ahead - Paths that cross: Two vessels are on crossing paths so as to involve risk of collision - Overtaking: A vessel is coming upon another vessel from behind or nearly behind the other vessel ◆ The rules that follow cover most of the situations you will encounter as a recre- ational boater. • Note that the illustrations are not drawn to scale. The boats are shown closer to each other than they should be when actually encountering another vessel on the water. • Be aware that there are exceptions to the rules. For example, if you approach a vessel that has less maneuverability than your vessel, the other vessel will usually be the stand-on vessel (see sidebar on page 12, "Responsibilities Between Vessels"). The navigation rules contained in this course summarize the basic navigation respon- sibilities for a boat operator on inland waterways. Additional and more in-depth rules apply to various types of waterways, such as International Waters and Western Rivers, and to operation regarding commercial vessels and other watercraft. It is the responsibility of an operator to know and follow all the navigation rules. For a complete listing of the navigation rules, refer to the U.S. Coast Guard publication Navigation Rules (COMDTINST 16672.2 Series) that can be purchased from the U.S. Government Bookstore. Or you can view the rules online at: http://www.navcen.uscg. gov/?pageName=navRulesContent For state-specific navigation requirements, refer to the laws of the state where you intend to boat. Additional Information Navigation Rules: Definitions For the purpose of the U.S. Coast Guard's navigation rules, the following definitions apply. • Vessel: Every kind of watercraft capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, including seaplanes • Power-driven vessel: Any vessel propelled by machinery, including a sailboat using an engine • Sailing vessel: Any vessel under sail and with no engine in use • Underway: Not anchored, tied to shore, or aground • Risk of collision: Any situation where an approaching vessel continues on a collision course (the bearing of the approaching vessel does not change), or anytime you are approaching a very large vessel Copyright © 2014 Boat Ed, www.boat-ed.com

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