COLREGs · Rule 9
Narrow Channels
Last verified: 2026-05-16
TL;DR
A vessel proceeding along a narrow channel or fairway shall keep as near to the outer limit of the channel which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable.
Why it shows up on the exam
Inland adds a power-driven-vessel-on-the-Great-Lakes/Western-Rivers descending-favor exception in 33 CFR §83.09(a)(ii).
Authoritative source
Source links checked against the current public rule corpus on 2026-05-16.
- 33 CFR §83.09— verbatim Inland Rule text (US Code of Federal Regulations)(retrieved 2026-05-16)
- International COLREGs Rule 9 verbatim text is published by the IMO. The Inland counterpart 33 CFR §83 chunk above mirrors the international wording almost verbatim.
Inland parallel
Inland Rule 9 — Narrow Channels →More from Part B-I — Conduct in Any Visibility
Related drills
Drill COLREGs Rule 9
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