"Right of Way"

The term right-of-way does not appear in the Navigation Rules. However, that does not mean that we can go in all directions disregarding other vessels. Certain situations require right-of-way practices. The official terms used the Rules of the Road pertaining to meeting and passing other vessels are "stand-on vessel" and "give-way vessel". The U.S. Inland Rules also call for whistle signals to given in certain situations. Smaller vessels us their horn for these signals. When meeting another power-driven vessel head-on, you should keep to the right and pass the other vessel port-to-port(left side to left side). The proper signal is one short blast of the horn by one vessel answered by the other vessel with the same signal. If a vessel is far enough to your right so as to pass safely, you should signal two short blast to be answered by the other vessel with the same signal. Then you can safely pass starboard-to starboard. In a crossing situation, a vessel in your danger zone has the right-of-way if coming toward you and is considered the stand-on vessel. The danger zone is the arc from dead ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft(behind)the starboard beam. This arc is also the arc of the starboard sidelight used in night navigation. The opposite would apply for vessels approaching your port danger zone. In an overtaking situation, the boat being overtaken has the right-of-way. If the overtaking boat plans to pass to the left, the skipper should sound two short blasts of the horn. If passing to the right, one short blast. There is one more signal that you need to know when encountering another vessel and that is the danger signal. If you feel the action indicated by the signal is not safe or could case a possible collision, a signal of 5 short blasts of the horn can be used. When all else fails, pick up your marine radio and call the other vessel or safely slow to a stop and wait for the other vessel to clear.