Hierarchy of Right-of-Way on the Water
Who has the “Right-of-Way?”
Hierarchy of right-of-way is presented here; from highest right-of-way to the lowest right-of-way. I think of it as a totem pole; with the vessel with the most right-of-way at the top, and the lowest at the bottom. Here goes!
Overtaken Vessel
This vessel has top priority. If you are fast enough to pass someone, then you are the “give-way” vessel; the one you are overtaking is the “stand on,” meaning they should stand on course and speed, and you move around them.
NUC Not Under Command
Remember that “A” is the first letter of the alphabet, and has three sides, so, Aground, Adrift, Anchored. Other than being overtaken, Not Under Command is the first on the totem pole. Any of those vessels can’t give way even if they wanted!
RAM Restricted in the Ability to Maneuver
Like an aircraft carrier that needs a mile to make a turn! Any vessel, that, due to it’s design or work, cannot move easily to avoid others.
CBD Constrained by Draft
The cruise ship in the channel, the sailboat in a small channel with jet skis around… Technically, this is for International Waters, not Inland, however, it’s followed by most as a courtesy even inland to the vessel limited by her draft.
Fishing
Not jon boat, dog, and cooler, but actual fishing as in dragging a lot of nets and big tackle – nets, lines, trawls – fishing apparatus that precludes quick maneuvering. Not to be confused with trolling, which is dragging a few lines and allows fur turns and does not actually restrict their ability to maneuver! This is commercial endeavor; serious people earning their tough living; not million-dollar sport fishing machines that can turn on a dime.
Sailing
Next to the bottom of the totem pole of right-of-ways, and, sailboat are not even sailing all the time, so… only when they are actually sailing and not overtaking anyone at all, or dealing with any of the aforementioned situations.
Power
Vessels under power. Least right-of-way
Pedestrians of the Sea
Then there’s those underpowered or manually-propelled cases; paddle boards and kayaks and people doing yoga on floating planks. I like to think of them as pedestrians; somewhere between fishing and sailing. They can’t really move easily…
What to read next: US Aids to Navigation – Red Right Returning
