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Rules of the Road

Head-on

Technical visualReciprocal power-driven encounter
Reciprocal power-driven encounterTwo power-driven vessels alter course to starboard and pass port to port.VESSEL AVESSEL B
Reciprocal power-driven encounterTwo power-driven vessels alter course to starboard and pass port to port.VESSEL AVESSEL B
Rule 14: both vessels alter to starboard; each passes on the other vessel’s port side.

Rule 14

When two power-driven vessels meet on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so that risk of collision exists:

both alter course to starboard

each passes on the other's port side

At night, a typical head-on indication is seeing both the red and green sidelights of the other vessel.

If in doubt whether a head-on situation exists, treat it as one.

Inland nuance

The Inland Rule contains additional wording relating to agreement between vessels and special provisions for vessels proceeding downbound with a following current on specified rivers and waters.

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