Boating Basics: On the Water

Safe navigation on Missouri waterways is everyone's responsibility. All operators are equally responsible for taking action necessary to avoid collisions.

Encountering Other Vessels

Even though no vessel has the "right-of-way" over another vessel, there are some rules that every operator should follow when encountering other vessels. It is the responsibility of both operators to take whatever action is needed to avoid a collision. The next page shows what to do when encountering another vessel.

To prevent collisions, every operator should follow the three basic rules of navigation:

• Practice good seamanship.
• Keep a sharp lookout.
• Maintain a safe speed and distance.

Encountering Vessels With Limited Maneuverability

When operating a power-driven vessel, you must give way to:

• Any vessel not under command, such as an anchored or disabled vessel
• Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, such as a vessel towing another or laying cable, or one constrained by its draft, such as a large ship in a channel
• A vessel engaged in commercial fishing
• A sailboat under sail unless it is overtaking
• A canoe or other vessel powered by paddles or oars alone

When operating a vessel under sail, you must give way to:

• Any vessel not under command
• Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
• A vessel engaged in commercial fishing

Additional Rules

The navigation rules summarized and discussed in this handbook cover the most common situations for the recreational boater. A more complete set of rules can be found in the U. S. Coast Guard's publication, Navigation Rules which can be obtained by writing to:

Superintendent of Documents
U. S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402

Or you can download the rules from the Internet at: www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htm.