Rules of the Road, Navigation, and Seamanship
Rules of the road
Candidates should understand the general hierarchy: conduct of vessels in any condition of visibility, in sight of one another, and in restricted visibility. Know the concepts of give-way and stand-on vessels, the requirement for safe speed, risk of collision, and the use of sound and light signals. Understand crossing, head-on, and overtaking situations and the requirement to avoid collision even when standing on.
Navigation and seamanship
Understand position fixing, use of charts and notices, set and drift, and the effect of current and wind on a tow. Know basic mooring and line handling, watchkeeping principles, and the importance of a proper lookout.
Traps
- Assuming the stand-on vessel may hold course regardless - it must act when collision is imminent.
- Confusing the crossing rule with the head-on rule.
- Forgetting restricted-visibility obligations.
- Ignoring set and drift when planning a tow.
- Treating a lookout as optional.
Worked rule of thumb
For crossing situations, the vessel with the other on its starboard side gives way. For head-on, both alter to starboard. For overtaking, the overtaking vessel keeps clear. When in doubt about risk of collision, assume it exists and act early and substantially - a small, late alteration is a classic exam trap.