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33 CFR §83.14

33 CFR Part 83

TL;DR

(a) Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.

§ 83.14 § 83.14 Head-on situation (Rule 14).

(a)Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.

(b)Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

(c)When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.

(d)Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Rule, a power-driven vessel operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner of passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i) (§ 83.34(a)(i)), as appropriate.

(a)Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.

(b)Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

(c)When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.

(d)Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Rule, a power-driven vessel operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner of passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i) (§ 83.34(a)(i)), as appropriate.


Try a sample question

A power-driven vessel on the Western Rivers is proceeding upbound and encounters a downbound power-driven vessel with a following current. The downbound vessel sounds two short blasts, proposing a starboard-to-starboard passing. The upbound vessel considers the maneuver unsafe due to a shoal on the port side. Under the Inland Rules, what is the upbound vessel's correct and complete response?

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33 CFR §83.14 — Captain's Exam Prep · CaptainsGround