The Rules of the Road

By Captain Bob Figular

Part 1
General Definitions and Steering & Sailing Rules

With the new boating season now upon us, it is important to remember that you are required to know how to operate your vessels sound signaling equipment when in meeting, crossing, and overtaking situations. You must also be able to interpret whistle and bell signals and understand the navigational lights used by passing vessels as they apply to the rules of the road while when operating in restricted visibility. The rules of the road are published by the Coast Guard in a booklet entitled Navigation Rules (COMDINST Ml6672.2D).

This month's column is the first in a series of three that will present the Rules of the Road in an easily understood format. Part one we will cover the General Definitions and Steering and Sailing Rules. Next month, part two, will cover the different Lights and Day Shapes and part three will cover Sound and Light Signals encountered on our waterways.

International Rules are specific rules for all vessels on the high seas and in connecting waters navigable by seagoing vessels. The Inland Rules apply to all vessels upon the inland waters of the United States and to vessels of the United States on the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes to the extent that there is no conflict with Canadian law. The International Rules were formalized at the convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972. These rules are commonly called 72 COLREGS.

Inland Rules vary from International Rules primarily because of the addition of certain extra precautions. In our discussion of basic rules, each rule stated is the same for both international and inland waters unless a distinction was pointed out. When the term power-driven vessel is mentioned, for example, it means in both International and Inland, any vessel propelled by machinery as distinguished from a sailing vessel.

General Definitions

For the purpose of these rules, except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply:

  1. Inland waters means the navigable waters of the United States shoreward of the demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other bodies of waters of the United States, and the waters of the Great Lakes of the United States' side of the international boundary.

  2. Demarcation lines means the lines delineating those waters upon which mariners must comply with the 72 COLREGS and those waters upon which mariners must comply with the Inland Navigation Rules.

  3. Underway means that a vessel is not at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground.

  4. The word vessel includes every description of watercraft, including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

  5. The term power-driven vessel means any vessel propelled by machinery.

  6. The term sailing vessel means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

  7. The term vessel engaged in fishing means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing apparatus that restrict maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus that do not restrict maneuverability.

  8. The word seaplane includes any aircraft designed to maneuver on the water.

  9. Restricted visibility means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.