Legal Definitions - rules of navigation

The rules of navigation are a comprehensive set of principles and regulations that govern how vessels operate on water to prevent collisions and ensure safety. These rules dictate actions such as who has the right-of-way, how to signal intentions, and what lights or shapes must be displayed, depending on the type of vessel and the circumstances.

• Imagine two small recreational motorboats approaching each other head-on in a river. According to the rules of navigation, both boats are generally required to alter their course to starboard (their right side) to pass port-to-port (left side to left side). This specific guideline prevents a direct collision by ensuring a predictable and safe passing maneuver, illustrating how the rules dictate actions to avoid danger.

• Consider a large commercial container ship entering a busy port channel while a smaller fishing trawler is crossing its path. The rules of navigation often stipulate that a large, deeply laden vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, like the container ship, has the right-of-way over a more agile vessel like the fishing trawler. The trawler is then obligated to take early and substantial action to keep clear, demonstrating how these rules assign responsibilities to different types of vessels to avoid dangerous encounters.

• A sailboat is cruising offshore after sunset. The rules of navigation mandate that the sailboat must display specific colored lights—a red light on its port (left) side, a green light on its starboard (right) side, and a white stern light. These lights are not merely for visibility; they communicate the vessel's type, size, and direction of travel to other vessels, allowing them to understand the sailboat's intentions and take appropriate action to prevent a collision in the dark, thereby ensuring safety through clear identification.