Rule text#
Source
(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.
Why it shows up on the exam#
Two short blasts (Inland) or two long-short signals are wrong here — the rule is one short blast 'I am altering my course to starboard.'
Authoritative source#
Source links checked against the current public rule corpus on 2026-05-16.
- 33 CFR §83.14 — the section this text comes from, with its neighbours.
- The Inland Navigation Rules are codified at 33 CFR Part 83 and are public domain. The international COLREGs text is published separately by the IMO.
Practice this rule#
One real exam question on this rule, cited to source. No sign-up.
On the Western Rivers, two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal courses. Vessel A is proceeding downbound with a following current; Vessel B is upbound. Which statement correctly describes their obligations under Inland Rule 14?
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