So Who Has the Right-Of-Way Here?

[Weyalan]

If no other restrictions apply, both vessels should alter course to starboard.
If either vessel is limited in its ability to manouever (by draft or manoueverability), then the other should alter course.
In some areas, local regulations over and above COLREGS can apply (such as in Sydney harbour, where the yellow ferries have automatic ROW over all non-commercial vessels...

[CSY Man]

In any hearing BOTH boats would, and should, be found equally at fault. I hope both these bozos lost their USCG licenses!

Not sure they Captains had any USCG licenses: The boats in the video were Egyptian.

[rtbates]

Neither vessel had the ROW and both were burdened. And both were obviously driven by morons....

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by slomotion

Chuck nailed it.

If you're on a boat, this guy always has the right of way:

We had this exact situation on Monday. My brother got a picture of it.

We were under spinnaker on the right(ish) side of our channel - clearly not on the left. At first I could clearly see the entire Port side of the ship. As he came to our channel he started altering to starbaord so as to head up our channel. Soon all I saw was bow so we altered to stay out of his way.

We ultimately gybed and he still kept turning. He finally blew the horn, I fired up the iron genny and blasted 90 degrees off the channel. He clearly "cut the corner" and was entirely on the left side of the channel as he headed in.

I had given him plenty of room and he kept driving me to the starboard. I was a bit pissed but given his size it was definitely prudent to stay away.

I'll see if I can get the picture up later.

[Jentine]

It does not appear that the vessel in the foreground is moving but the angle prevents seeing if he is anchored.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Jentine

It does not appear that the vessel in the foreground is moving but the angle prevents seeing if he is anchored.

Both boats are moving.

[cat man do]

So, numbnuts has enough time to get the video rolling , film the collision, but not avoid it.

The others are sitting up top with plenty of vis., but fail to see the boat about to run them down.

Fools, both of them

Dave

[Thermal]

Originally Posted by Jentine

It does not appear that the vessel in the foreground is moving but the angle prevents seeing if he is anchored.

If you watch where the little boat gets hit, its clear that they both are moving. It appears to be out in open water, so the little boat has ROW as far as CG rules go, but according to the "rules" laid out by Newton, the little guy should have got out of the way as the punishment for breaking those rules is immediate. If you persist in breaking those rules, then the rules of Darwin come into play

[svHyLyte]

Here lies the body of Michael O'Day;
Who died maintaining his Right of Way;
He was right, dead right, as he sailed along;
But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong!

How hard would it have been for either of these rectums to have altered course to port a few degrees? Hopefully no innocent victom's were killed or injured but I suspec that is not the case.

Whenever my wife asks the question "Who's got the right of way" I tell her that if the other boats bigger than us or a power boat, assume he/it does and act accordingly. S'worked so far.

s/v HyLyte

[starfish62]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Not sure they Captains had any USCG licenses: The boats in the video were Egyptian.

I thought this was the Red Sea, also CSYman. How'd you know?

[Chief Engineer]

Head on or nearly headon. Both had the responsibility to turn to starboard to avoid collision. And both obviously were not looking at what was going on around them.

You never ever push a right of way issue.........never

[starfish62]

On a separate, but related note. I was entering the Panama Canal zone and was just past the breakwater when a LARGE pilot boat altered course and came screaming up on me head to head. He then came out on deck and yelled, "Get out of the channel!" So I guess it's relative.

[SkiprJohn]

HyLyte,
What if the big power boat expects you to maintain your course and speed which you are supposed to do? Do you change course far enough in advance so he has some kind of clue?
This is not meant as criticism but if I am the give way vessel I really want the other guy to maintain course and speed so I don't have to do weird maneuvering to avoid a collision. I also get the feeling that if the a stand on vessel starts changing course and speed then they think I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm doing.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Tempest245]

Sorry, I can't get the video to load, on this PC...will look at this later.


Just an aside though....the term " Right of way" will not be found in the navigation rules. There are only stand on vessels and give way vessels.

And then there is the "Oh **** rule.".....which summarized, says that vessels will take early and decisive action to avoid collision. .....in any collision, the coast guard will ask the captain....What actions did you take to avoid the collision. The answer can never be....." None, I had the right of way"....

Tempest...

[Tempest245]

Skipper John is absolutely correct!

The stand on vessel has the responsibility to "maintain course and speed"....until the Oh **** rule takes effect......which should be in sufficient time to avoid collision..