The laws governing safe enjoyment of
Canadian waters
Rules of the road:
The rules of the road are established
by the
Collision Regualations
and apply to every vessel in
all navigable waters - from canoe to supertanker.
Maintaining a proper look-out and avoiding a
collision:
The
Collision Regualations
require the operator
of every vessel to maintain a constant look-out. When
operating in the vicinity of large commerical vessels,
remember that these vessels have limited visibility,
turning and stopping capabilities, so it is important
to maintain an all-around lookout at all times to be
prepared to move out of the way of larger vessels. You
are required to use every available means, including
radar and radio, to determine whether there is any risk
of collision with another vessel. That’s not only common
sense,
it’s the law!
Clear right-of-way rules exist to help vessels using the
same waterways to avoid colliding with one another.
The rules are very specific, and you must learn them.
For example, right-of-way rules for powerdriven vessels
include the following:
a. When each sailing vessel has the wind on a different
side, the vessel that has the wind on it port (left) side
shall keep out of the way of the other. In our illustration,
A keeps clear of B. If a sailing vessel has the wind on its
port side and the sailor cannot determine with certainty
whether the other vessel has the wind on its port or
starboard side, the first vessel must keep out of the way
of the other.
b.
When both sailing vessels have the wind on the same
side, the vessel to windward shall keep out of the way of
the vessel to leeward. B keeps clear of A.
Note: The windward side is defined as the side opposite
to that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a
square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which
the largest fore-aft sail is carried.
14. Safe Waterways
