Safe at Sea: The rules of the road — on waterways
Traffic on our highways has certain rules that all drivers must know and follow. So too, are there rules for operating a boat on our waterways, kind of the rules of the road for boaters. We might begin by suggesting, comparable to granting or yielding “right of way” under certain conditions, there are rules to define the responsibility of a person in charge of a boat’s operation.
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, or COLREGS, govern the responsibility of vessel operators in both inland and international waterways. We endeavor in this column to provide a brief outline of most rules that affect us as we encounter others on the water, but it is not a substitute for thoroughly learning the rules in a boat handling course.
Anybody operating a boat on waters off Florida’s coast should understand when their boat is the “give-way boat” or is the “stand-on boat.” Knowing this is a major key to avoiding collision with another boat. To first understand which one one’s boat is, you must consider the “pecking order.” A vessel lower on the list must “give way” to a vessel higher on the list:
1. Vessel unable to steer (or at anchor)
2. Vessel with limited turning ability
3. Vessel restricted by draft (usually a large commercial vessel)
4. Commercial boats engaged in fishing
5. Row boats
6 Sail boats
7. Recreational power boats
If you are piloting a recreational power boat and are underway, you are responsible to “give way” to any of the other boats higher on the “pecking order.”
Relating to two boats in the same “pecking order” category like two recreational power boats, as we usually encounter in local waters, the rules provide for an understanding by both captains for clearly managing to pass each other safely. Two boats meeting head on should keep right or maneuver to their starboard so they pass each other port side to port side, pretty much like out there on our highways.
Boats that are heading toward crossed paths do have an important obligation to understand the applicable rule in this situation. One of the boats will have a “danger zone.” It is defined as the zone on the water in an arc from zero off the bow of the boat to 112.5 degrees aft to starboard – the right. Another boat approaching in this zone is the “stand on” boat and should maintain speed and direction. The boat with another boat approaching within this danger zone is the “give-way” boat and must yield by changing course, altering speed, or even stopping to avoid collision.
A boat passing another going in the same direction is responsible to pass safely without causing collision or harm to passengers. Remember that the boat doing the passing is responsible for its wake. It may pass either side, but the rule for warning by sounding one’s horn is one blast to pass on the right – the starboard side of the boat being passed – or two sounds from the horn for passing on the left – the port side of the boat being passed.
There is one more very important rule. It is the basic of good sense and safety on the water, and that is that the party with the last clear chance to avoid a collision has an obligation to do so. We wish you happy days on the water this season.
Bob Eidsvold is a member of America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva. For more information, contact 239-985-9472 or Commander@SanibelCaptivaSPS.org or visit online at sancapboating.club.