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Boating safety course

Navigation Rules and Collision Avoidance

Master the Federal Navigation Rules (International and Inland), right-of-way situations, collision avoidance procedures, and vessel responsibilities for safe, legal navigation.

10 lessonsAbout 200 minutes

  1. 01Introduction to Navigation RulesUnderstand the legal authority of navigation rules, International vs Inland systems, Rule 2 (Responsibility), and the collision avoidance system (Rules 6, 7, 8).
  2. 02Head-On Situations (Rule 14)Master head-on encounters between power-driven vessels, recognition criteria, required actions, critical Inland vs International differences, and sound signals.
  3. 03Crossing Situations (Rules 15, 16, 17)Understand crossing encounters, give-way and stand-on responsibilities, the three-phase dance of Rule 17, and critical Inland river crossing rules.
  4. 04Overtaking Situations (Rule 13)Learn the trump card rule of overtaking, recognition criteria, no-escape clauses, narrow channel overtaking procedures, and dangerous signal differences.
  5. 05Vessel Hierarchy (Rule 18)Master the pecking order of vessels, definitions of NUC, RAM, Fishing, Sailing, and Power vessels, lights and shapes, and the critical CBD difference.
  6. 06Narrow Channels and Traffic Separation Schemes (Rules 9-10)Navigate special waters including narrow channels, TSS lanes, crossing procedures, the shall not impede mandate, and ITZ usage restrictions.
  7. 07Restricted Visibility (Rules 19, 35)Navigate safely in fog and restricted visibility, understand when steering rules do not apply, required sound signals, and radar vs sound detection actions.
  8. 08Rule 2 in Practice - Special CircumstancesApply the General Prudential Rule, understand good seamanship requirements, when to depart from rules, and integration with Rule 17 stand-on duties.
  9. 09Sailing Vessels (Rules 12, 18, 25)Understand sailing vessel rules, tack-based right-of-way, when sailing privilege is lost, the motorsailing cone of shame, and common misconceptions.
  10. 10Synthesis - The Unified Collision Avoidance SystemIntegrate all navigation rules into the OODA Loop framework, understand why collisions happen, and apply lessons from NTSB failure analyses.

20 questions, 80% to pass. The quiz and your progress need a free account; the lessons above do not.