Rules of the Road Part II
This week we look at common on the water situations and how the
rules treat them.
Situation 1: Overtaking. Rule 13 deals with this succinctly,
“Any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out the way of the vessel
being overtaken.”
If you are passing another boat it is your call to take a suitable path.
Situation 2: When boats are head on, that is meeting on a
reciprocal course you should alter your course to starboard. This will
result in the vessels passing side on the port side.
Situation 3: When vessels are crossing in a possible collision
situation “the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side
shall keep out of the way and shall, if the other circumstances of
the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.”
Situation 4: This situation is common to vessels transiting
the Muskegon Channel from Muskegon Lake to Lake Michigan.
Rule 9 covers narrow channels.
Often times boats will troll for fish in the channel. Sometimes
these boats impede the traffic flow by operating as if they
are restricted in their ability to maneuver.
However, Rule 3 reads that a vessel engaged in fishing “does not
include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing
apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability.”
Realize that in your next encounter with a boat that is
trolling that you both have obligations to avoid a collision.
Applications of the above rules should keep your vessel free
from at sea collisions.
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