| There is often a lot of confusion as to who has the | | | | of all fishing vessels. |
| right of way out at sea. All regulated training courses | | | | In overtaking and passing situations, the craft being |
| cover collision avoidance in full, it is one subject every | | | | passed has right of way. The craft doing the |
| mariner should be knowledgeable on. | | | | overtaking is required to stay clear. Generally, you |
| So who dictates who has right of way? | | | | should not pass on the starboard (right hand) side. If at |
| The International Regulations for the Prevention of | | | | all possible you should let the craft being passed know |
| Collisions at Sea, or for short (IRPCS). The general rule | | | | you are there. |
| is that less manoeuvrable craft have priority over a | | | | In narrow channels, powered vessels under 65' can |
| more manoeuvrable craft. | | | | not hamper the operation of large vessels which can't |
| Below are some taster IRPCS rules that would apply | | | | navigate outside the channel. In a head-on-situation, |
| smaller watercraft; Sailboats have right of way over | | | | when you feel there is a chance of collision, you should |
| powered vessel in almost all cases, because the wind | | | | turn starboard (right) and keep the other craft on your |
| dictates their direction. This is not true for overtaking | | | | port (left) side. |
| powered vessels. | | | | When crossing the path of another craft, the craft on |
| Fishing vessels always have right of way regardless | | | | the starboard (right) side has right of way. The craft |
| of their relative position. All vessels fishing with nets, | | | | on the port (left) side must slow and turn to starboard |
| lines or trawls count as fishing vessels. Steer well clear | | | | to pass behind the other craft. |