33 CFR 83.14: Head-on situation between power-driven vessels
Last reviewed: November 9, 2026
This section covers two power-driven vessels meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision. Unless otherwise agreed, each must alter her course to starboard and pass on the port side of the other. A vessel in doubt must assume the situation exists.
Applies toPower-driven vessels meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision.
What it says
Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels meet on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, each must alter her course to starboard and pass on the port side of the other.
33 CFR 83.14(a)“each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other”
A head-on situation is deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights.
33 CFR 83.14(b)“by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights”
By day, a head-on situation is deemed to exist when the vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.
33 CFR 83.14(b)“by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel”
A vessel in any doubt about whether a head-on situation exists must assume that it does exist and act accordingly.
33 CFR 83.14(c)“When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.”
Despite paragraph (a), a power-driven vessel operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current, has the right-of-way over an upbound vessel.
33 CFR 83.14(d)“a power-driven vessel operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel”
That downbound vessel must propose the manner of passage and must initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i) (§ 83.34(a)(i)), as appropriate.
33 CFR 83.14(d)“shall propose the manner of passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i) (§ 83.34(a)(i)), as appropriate”
Common questions
Which way do I turn in a head-on situation?
Unless otherwise agreed, each power-driven vessel must alter her course to starboard. Each then passes on the port side of the other.
“each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other”
What if I am not sure whether a head-on situation exists?
The vessel must assume that the situation does exist. She must act accordingly.
“she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly”
Who has the right-of-way when a downbound vessel meets an upbound vessel?
A power-driven vessel operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current, has the right-of-way over an upbound vessel.
“proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel”
The text of 33 CFR 83.14
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Head-on situation (Rule 14)
(a) Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.
(b) Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.
(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.
(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Rule, a power-driven vessel operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner of passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i) (§ 83.34(a)(i)), as appropriate.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.