1. The Rules Of The Nautical Road
Chapter 6
The Rules Of The Nautical Road
Reprinted with permission from, A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, Second Edition by Michael Scherer
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

2. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Lesson Objectives
How Navigation Rules apply
Differences between Inland and International Rules
General Responsibility Rule
Assessing Accident Liability
Responsibility for helping others
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

3. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Lesson Objectives (2)
Safe conduct of your vessel
Proper sound signals
Proper light configurations
Operation in restricted visibility
What lights and shapes tell you
Legal distress signals
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

4. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Two Sets of Rules
Why do we need Navigation Rules?
Reprinted with permission from, A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, Second Edition by Michael Scherer
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

5. Two Sets of Rules for Navigable Waters
International
Inland
Sole State Waters
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

6. Two Sets of Rules
What is the purpose and appearance of demarcation lines?
Reprinted with permission from
The Weekend Navigator by Bob Sweet
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

7. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Vessel Definitions
Who can tell the difference in the following:
Sailing vessel
Power driven vessel
Seaplane
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

8. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Vessel Definitions
Underway
Not anchored, grounded, made fast
Adrift or Drifting
Making way
Being propelled
Reprinted with permission from Seaworthy: Essential Lessons From Boat U.S. 20 year case file of things Gone Wrong by Robert Adriance
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

9. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Vessel Definitions
Fishing vessel
Vessel restricted in ability to maneuver
Vessel in sight of another
Vessel not under command
Vessel constrained by draft
Reprinted with permission from Seaworthy: Essential Lessons From Boat U.S. 20 year case file of things Gone Wrong by Robert Adriance
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

10. Rule 2, General Responsibility Rule
Rule of Good Seamanship
Must follow the rules and practice good seamanship
The General Prudential Rule
In case of imminent danger of collision you must use good seamanship and take any action necessary to avoid the collision, even if it violates a navigation rule.
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

11. Assessing Legal Liability
What do you think your responsibility is when involved in a collision?
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

12. Assessing Legal Liability
All parties usually share responsibility for accident.
You may be partly at fault, no matter what the other skipper does.
If under the influence you will be partially at fault regardless of the cause.
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

13. General Considerations
Vessel size and rules
Maintain a lookout
Safe speed
Radar
at 20 knots
at 40 knots
at 60 knots
Reprinted with permission from Fast Powerboat Seamanship by Dag Pike
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

14. Conduct in a Narrow Channel
Who can recall some of the rules to observe when operating in a narrow channel?
Reprinted with permission from Seaworthy: Essential Lessons From Boat U.S. 20 year case file of things Gone Wrong by Robert Adriance
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

15. Conduct in a Narrow Channel
Keep to the right
Don’t cross in path of another vessel.
Don’t anchor except in an emergency.
Vessel traveling with the current has the right of way (Inland Rules only)
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

16. Traffic Separation Schemes
International Rules
Vessel Traffic Services
Reprinted with permission from A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands
Reprinted with permission from A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands
Reprinted with permission from A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands
Reprinted with permission from, A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, Second Edition by Michael Scherer
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

17. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Stand On or Give Way
Stand on vessel
Give way vessel
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

18. Stand On or Give Way/Danger Zone
Who can describe the three sectors on a vessel?
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

19. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Stand On or Give Way
Who is stand on when you see the following:
Red/Green light together
White light drawing closer
Red light
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

20. Rules for Special Vessels
Reprinted with permission from Rules of the Road and Running Light Patterns: A Captain’s Quic Guide by Charlie Wing
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

21. Rules for Special Vessels
Overtaking and Overtaken Vessels
Overtaken vessel
Sailing vessel
Seaplanes
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

22. Rules for Special Vessels
Sailing Vessel is give way if
Wind on port side
Windward of another
Reprinted with permission from Rules of the Road and Running Light Patterns: A Captain’s Quic Guide by Charlie Wing
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

23. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Risk of Collision
Constant bearing + decreasing range = collision course
Make course change large enough to be evident (at least 60 degrees)
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

24. Risk of Collision Sound Signals
SHORT BLAST (1 Sec)
A MANEUVERING SIGNAL
PROLONGED BLAST (4-6 Sec)
ALSO A MANEUVERING SIGNAL
ATTENTION GETTER, USE WHEN:
LEAVING A DOCK
APPROACHING SHARP BEND
IN FOG OR RESTRICTED VISIBILITY
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

25. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Risk of Collision
Lights
Sound signals
Intl & Inland different words, same result
1 short pass with you on my port
2 short pass you on my starboard
3 short operating in reverse
5 or more short danger/doubt
International meeting
Signal action I’m taking
No response required unless danger/doubt
Inland meeting
Signal intention
Respond same if agree, danger/doubt if not
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

26. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Risk of Collision
Meeting
Head-on / nearly so
No right-of-way
Port-to-port preferred
Crossing
Side light visible
Right’s right - pass astern
Overtaking
No side lights visible
Overtaking - stay clear
Prefer overtaken vessel on port
Reprinted with permission from Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

27. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Risk of Collision
Crossing Situations
Crossing signals
Crossing in International Waters
Crossing in Inland Waters
Reprinted with permission from Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

28. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Risk of Collision
Overtaking Situations
Inland Waters
International Waters
Narrow channel
Signal Intention
Sound two prolonged blasts before either one or two short blasts
Response for agree is “C” (Clear) regardless of side. Prolong, short, prolong, short.
Reprinted with permission from Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

29. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Risk of Collision
Bend signals
Who can tell us what signals are used when nearing a bend when your view may be restricted?
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

30. Restricted Visibility
What should a boater do when there is restricted visibility?
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

31. Restricted Visibility
Go slowly; no one has right of way
Use sound signals
Post added outlooks
Use radar if available to target objects
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

32. Restricted Visibility
Sound signals underway
Power driven making way
1 prolonged blast every 2 minutes
Power driven adrift
2 prolonged blasts every 2 minutes
Power driven other circumstances and Sail driven making way
1 prolonged 2 short blasts every 2 minutes
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

33. Restricted Visibility
Sound signals not underway
Anchor in open water
Vessel aground
Special anchorages
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

34. Sound signals not underway
Anchor:
12 meters or greater – ring bell rapidly for 5 seconds every one minutes.
Less than 12 meters – make sound every 2 minutes.
100 meters or more – bell in forepart followed by gong in aft part every one minute.
May also sound one short, one prolonged and 1 short whistle.
Aground: Same as at anchor with 3 distinct strokes of bell immediately before and after rapid ringing of bell.
Special anchorage: vessels less than 20 meters do not sound signals.
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

35. Vessel Lights and Shapes
What kinds of information do lights and day shapes on boats provide?
On -Diagram
Light Type
Arc
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

36. Vessel Lights and Shapes
Sailing vessels underway
Separate lights
Combined side lights
Alternative lights – less than 20 meters
Using both power and sail
Optional all-round mast lights under sail
Sailing vessel less than 7 meters and row boat
Reprinted with permission from Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

37. Vessel Lights and Shapes
Power driven underway
Less than 20 meters long
12 meters or more
50 meters or more
Reprinted with permission from Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

38. Vessel Lights and Shapes
Special lights and shapes
Fishing vessels
Restricted in ability to navigate
Constrained by draft (Intl. rule)
Towing vessels
Other special vessels
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

39. Vessel Lights and Shapes
Fishing:
dragging nets – 2 all-round lights in vertical line –green over white. Day shapes, 2 cones in vertical line with apexes touching.
Not trawling - 2 all-round lights in vertical line, red over white.
Restricted in ability to maneuver.
(i) two all-round red lights or two balls in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the obstruction exists;
(ii) two all-round green lights or two diamonds in a vertical line to indicate the side on which another vessel may pass;
(iii) when at anchor, the lights or shapes prescribed in this paragraph instead of the lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30.
Constrained by draft – Intl. rule only. 3 red all-round lights vertically stacked. Day – black cylinder.
Towing astern – Power driven – 2 mast head lights in vertical line and yellow towing light above white stern light. Over 200 meters – 3 vertical mast head lights and diamond shape in day.
Special vessels Law enforcement – blue flashing light.
Public safety activities – red and yellow flashing light.
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

40. Vessel Lights and Shapes
Vessels at anchor
Who remembers what lights a vessel at anchor has and what day shapes are displayed?
Reprinted with permission from Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

41. Vessel Lights and Shapes at Anchor
Less than 50 meters long
all-round white light in forepart.
Day shape – ball
50 meters or longer
an additional all-round white light near its stern lower than the forward light.
All may show deck lights. 100 meters or more must show deck lights
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

42. Vessel Lights and Shapes
Diving operations
What lights does a vessel engaged in diving operations show?
Reprinted with permission from Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

43. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Distress Signals
Who remembers some of the distress signals?
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

44. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Distress Signals
Mayday on radio, Morse Code signal SOS
Gun fires, continuous sounding of fog horn.
Black square & ball on orange background, Code flags N and C., flames on vessel, rocket parachute flare, red star shells.
Smoke signal, raising of arms outstretched, radio telephone alarm, EPIRB signal.
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

45. Homeland Security Measures
WATCH
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

46. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Drawbridges
Limitations
Signals
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

47. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Penalties
You can be fined for not obeying the rules
Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.