Section 4: Navigation Rules 49
DISCLAIMER: The navigation rules contained
in this course summarize basic
navigation rules for which a boat operator
is responsible on inland waterways.
Additional and more in depth rules apply
regarding various types of waterways,
such as International Waters and Western
Rivers, and operation in relation to commercial
vessels and other watercraft
For a complete listing of the navigation
rules, refer to the document NAVIGATION
RULES AND REGULATIONS
HANDBOOK by the United States Coast
Guard.
For State-specific navigation requirements,
refer to the state laws where you
intend to boat.
The importance of knowing the rules
before boating and the impact of complying
with that knowledge when boating to
prevent collisions cannot be overstressed.
The operator of each self-propelled vessel
39.4 feet (12 meters) or more in length
shall carry on board and maintain for ready
reference a copy of the Navigation Rules
and Regulations Handbook.
There are two sets of similar Navigational
Rules depending upon the location
of your boat:
1. International Rules
2. Inland Rules
INTERNATIONAL RULES
(RULE 1)
International Rules apply to all vessels on
the high seas outside established navigational
lines of demarcation. You will see these
magenta (purplish-red) dashed lines on coast
and harbor charts, even for areas within the
continental boundaries of the United States.
The lines are labeled as: COLREGS Demarcation
Line. The demarcation line is generally
found at the entrances to harbors, rivers
and bays along the coast. (Example Figure
4-1) International Waters are the waters seaward
of the navigational demarcation lines
depicted on navigation charts and described
in the Navigation Rules and Regulations.
The International Rules apply to boating on
waters seaward of the demarcation lines.
INLAND RULES
Inland Rules apply to inland waters of the
United States. Inland Waters means the
navigable waters of the United States shoreward
of the navigational demarcation lines
dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers
and other inland waters of the United
States and the waters of the Great Lakes
on the United States side of the International
Boundary. The Inland Rules means
2a
2b
2c
2d
3
4
5
6
7
8
Figure 4-1. Example of the
navigational Demarcation Line
on a navigation chart