How it applies
- WhenTwo power-driven vessels on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses, with risk of collision: you see the other ahead or nearly ahead.
- How you knowAt night, her masthead lights in line or nearly, and/or both sidelights; by day, the corresponding aspect.
- Who gives wayBoth. Each alters to starboard so that each passes on the port side of the other.
- If in doubt whether it is head-on, assume it is and act accordingly.
- Act early and clearly (Rules 8 and 16) and, in sight, show the turn with one short blast (Rule 34(a)).
The full version
Practise Rule 14 in the Academy
Free: a preview of this unit with its key points. The whole unit is in the Exam Pass, once for 12 months.
What the Exam Pass adds
- The interactive model: put the other vessel dead ahead and see both alter to starboard.
- Four new sketched cases: at night, in doubt, a sailing vessel and a false "head-on".
- The Rules 11 to 14 path, with your progress saved.
Practise with the free test 40 questions with explained answers · no sign-up
Before you apply Rule 14
Rule 14 is for two power-driven vessels meeting end on. In these cases another rule governs, or adds to it:
- The other is a sailing vessel under sailRule 18: the power-driven vessel keeps out of the way of the sailing vessel.
- You see her some degrees off your bow and only one sidelightThat is crossing (Rule 15): on your starboard side you give way; on your port side you keep course and speed.
- In a narrow channelRule 9: keep near the outer limit of the channel on your starboard side; head-on, both alter to starboard.
- Restricted visibility and not in sightRule 19 applies: for a vessel detected by radar alone forward of the beam, avoid altering to port.
Frequent mistakes
Wrong: "If we meet nearly head-on, each vessel alters to port."
Right: Rule 14 requires each vessel to alter to starboard and pass on the other's port side.
Wrong: "The situation requires seeing both sidelights; masthead lights do not count."
Right: Masthead lights in a line or nearly in a line also indicate it.
Wrong: "If I am unsure, I keep my course until the view is clearer."
Right: In any doubt, assume the situation exists and act accordingly.
More detail for the exam
The rule in plain words
- What do two power-driven vessels do on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses?
- If there is risk of collision, each shall alter her course to starboard so each passes on the port side of the other.
- How do you recognise the situation?
- By night, you could see the other vessel's masthead lights in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights; by day, the corresponding aspect.
- What if you are in doubt?
- Assume that it exists and act accordingly.
- Which vessels does it concern?
- Two power-driven vessels meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision.
Exam keys
- "Alter to starboard" is the manoeuvre; "pass on the port side" is the resulting passing arrangement.
- "In a line or nearly in a line" refers to both masthead lights; "and/or" can add both sidelights.
- If the question says "in any doubt", choose assumption and action, not waiting for clearer evidence.
How to read it
Read it as a paired action: each vessel alters to starboard, producing a port-side passing arrangement.
Doubt activates the rule; assume the situation exists and act accordingly instead of waiting for certainty.
Key points
- Pair: two power-driven vessels · reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses.
- Risk of collision → coordinated alteration to starboard.
- The visual cue combines masthead lights and sidelights.
- Doubt about the situation = assume it exists and act.
This rule's practice test is free in full, with no sign-up. The 10-question free limit applies to quizzes and mock exams.
Official text
Reviewed by Ramon Curto, Nautical teacher at IECNPC · Last reviewed: