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1
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- Inland Navigation Rules Act of 1980
Rules 1 through 38
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2
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- The Rules presented in this program are an overview of summarized
versions of the Inland Navigation Rules.
- This program should not be considered a substitute for a complete
version of the entire Inland Navigation Rules.
- The summarized rules in this program could be interpreted differently
than the complete rules of the Inland Navigation Rules.
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3
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- These Rules (1-38) apply to all vessels upon the inland waters of the
U.S. and to U.S. vessels on Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.
- 1-3 General Rules
- 4-19 Steering and Sailing Rules
- 4-10 apply in any condition of visibility
- 11-18 apply to vessels in sight of one another
- 19 apply to vessels in restricted visibility
- 20-31 Lights and Shapes
- 32-37 Sound and Light Signals
- 38 Exemptions
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4
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- Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, operator or owner
from the consequences of:
- neglect to comply with these rules
- neglect of any required precaution
- special circumstances of the case
- In complying with these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of
navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the
limits of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these
rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.
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5
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- Vessel - every description of watercraft capable of being used for
transportation on the water
- Power-driven vessel - any vessel propelled by machinery.
- Sailing vessel - any vessel under sail provided any propelling machinery
is not being used.
- Underway - not at anchor, made fast to shore or aground.
- Inland Waters – navigable waters of the U.S. shoreward of the
demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors and other inland
waters.
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6
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- These terms are defined in detail by Rules 16 and 17
- Give-way - a term used for the vessel which is directed by rule to keep
out of the way.
- Stand-on - a term used for the vessel which is directed by rule to keep
its course and speed.
- May take action if apparent other vessel is not taking appropriate
action
- Shall take action if necessary to avoid collision
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7
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- Rules in this part apply in any condition of visibility.
- “This part” refers to Steering and Sailing Rules 4-19
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8
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- Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and
hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing
circumstances and conditions
to make a full appraisal
of the situation and of
risk of collision.
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9
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- Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed so that it can take proper
and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance
appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
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10
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- In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be taken into
account:
- Visibility
- Traffic density
- Maneuverability including stopping distance and turning ability in the
prevailing conditions
- At night the presence of background light
- Wind, sea, current, and proximity of hazards
- Draft in relation to depth of water
- Additional factors for vessels with radar.
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11
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- Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing
circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists.
If there is any doubt, such risk shall exist.
- Proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational,
to obtain early warning of risk of collision.
- Assumptions shall not be made.
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12
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- In determining if
risk of collision exists:
Such risk shall exist if the
compass bearing of an approaching
vessel does not appreciably change.
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13
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- Close quarters situation less likely.
Risk of collision may not exist, but assumptions should not be
made.
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14
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- In determining if risk of collision exists:
Such risk may exist even when a bearing change is evident,
particularly when approaching a very large vessel or a vessel at close
range.
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15
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- Action taken to avoid collision
shall be positive, made in ample
time and with regard to good
seamanship.
- Alteration of course or speed shall
be large enough to be readily
apparent to another vessel.
- Alteration of course alone may
be the most effective action to avoid
a close-quarters situation if made in
good time.
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16
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- Action taken shall result in
passing at a safe distance.
- If necessary, a vessel
shall slacken speed or take
all way off by stopping
or reversing means
of propulsion.
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17
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- A vessel in a narrow channel shall keep as near to the outer limit of
the channel on its starboard side as is safe and practicable.
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18
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- A power vessel proceeding downbound with a following current shall have
right-of-way over an upbound vessel.
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19
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- A vessel less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not
impede a vessel that can safely navigate only within a channel.
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20
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- A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede passage of any other vessel
navigating within
a narrow channel.
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21
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- A vessel shall not cross a narrow channel if such crossing impedes
passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a channel.
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22
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- An overtaking vessel shall indicate its intention by sounding the
appropriate signal and take steps to permit safe passing. The overtaken
vessel sounds same signal if in agreement.
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23
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- A vessel nearing a bend or an area where vessels may be obscured by an
obstruction shall navigate with particular alertness and caution and
sound appropriate signals.
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24
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- Every vessel shall avoid anchoring in a narrow channel.
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25
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- Vessels leaving a dock, slip, tie-up or mooring shall yield the
right-of-way to all vessels approaching.
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26
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- Rules in this part apply to vessels in sight of one another.
- “This part” refers to Steering and Sailing Rules 11-18
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27
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- When two sailing vessels are approaching, one of them shall keep out of
the way as follows:
- When each has the wind on a different side, the vessel with the wind on
the port side shall keep out of the way.
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28
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- When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to
windward (upwind) shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to
leeward (downwind).
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29
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- When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to
windward (upwind) shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to
leeward (downwind).
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30
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- If a vessel with the wind on port side sees a vessel to windward and
cannot determine if the other vessel has the wind on the port or
starboard, it shall keep out of the way.
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31
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- The windward side is opposite to the side the
mainsail is carried on.
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32
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- Any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel
being overtaken.
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33
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- A vessel shall be overtaking when coming up from a direction more than
22½ degrees abaft (behind) another vessels beam;
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34
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- When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether it is overtaking, it shall
assume it is and act accordingly.
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35
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- When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether it is overtaking, it shall
assume it is and act accordingly.
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36
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- Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels are meeting on
reciprocal courses each shall alter course to starboard so that each
shall pass on the port side of the other.
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37
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- Such a situation shall exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or
nearly ahead and by night it could see both sidelights and by day
observes the corresponding aspect.
- When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists it
shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.
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38
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- When two power-driven vessels are crossing, the vessel which has the
other on its starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall avoid
crossing ahead of the other vessel.
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39
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40
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- A vessel crossing a river shall keep out of the way of
a power-driven vessel ascending or descending.
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41
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- Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel
shall, so far as possible,
take early and substantial action to keep well clear.
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42
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- Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep
its course and speed.
- The stand-on vessel may take action as soon as it becomes apparent the
give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action.
- A power-driven vessel which takes action with another power vessel shall
not alter course to port for a vessel on its own port side.
- When the stand-on vessel finds itself so close that collision cannot be
avoided by the give-way vessel alone, it shall take action to avoid
collision.
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43
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- Vessel not under command - a vessel which through some exceptional
circumstance is unable to maneuver as required by these rules and is
therefore unable to keep out of the way.
- Vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver - a vessel by nature of its
work is restricted in its ability to maneuver as required by these rules
and therefore unable to keep out of the way.
- Vessel engaged in fishing - any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls,
etc. which restricts maneuverability but does not include vessels
engaged in recreational fishing.
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44
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- Except where Rules 9 (Narrow Channels), 10 (Traffic Schemes) and 13
(Overtaking) otherwise require:
- A power vessel underway shall keep out of the
way of :
- a vessel not under command
- a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
- a vessel engaged in fishing (commercial vessel)
- a sailing vessel
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45
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- A sailing vessel shall keep out of the way of :
- a vessel not under command
- a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
- a vessel engaged in fishing (commercial)
- A vessel engaged in fishing (commercial) shall keep out of the way of :
- a vessel not under command
- a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
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46
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- This rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when in or near
an area of restricted visibility.
- Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the conditions. Power vessels shall have engines ready
for immediate maneuver.
- Every vessel shall have due regard to the prevailing conditions when
complying with navigation rules.
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47
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- A vessel which detects another
vessel by radar shall determine
if risk of collision exists. If so,
it shall take avoiding action.
- Every vessel which hears the fog signal of another shall reduce speed to
the minimum at which it can be kept on course. It shall if necessary
take all way off and, in any event, navigate with extreme caution.
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Notes
