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14

Head-on Situation

Head-on situation — both vessels alter course to starboard.

Rule 14 addresses head-on situations between power-driven vessels in sight of one another.

a
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.
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.

IMO COLREG 1972Official text

Full wording of the rule, reproduced from the official source below.

(a) 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.
Source:

STCW Bridge Watch Lens

Rules 4–10 apply in any visibility.

Rules 11–18 apply to vessels in sight of one another; Rule 19 applies to vessels not in sight when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility.

Build the traffic picture with sight, hearing, radar/ARPA and chart context.

Do not let AIS or one isolated bearing replace systematic observation.

After manoeuvring, keep monitoring bearing, range, CPA/TCPA and passing distance until the other vessel is finally past and clear.

Exam Focus

Identify the vessel types first, then the relative bearing, then whether one vessel is overtaking.

Misclassifying the encounter is the usual exam failure.

For vessels in sight, every overtaking vessel keeps clear until finally past and clear.

Rule 13 takes precedence over Part B Sections I and II; it does not override the other Parts of COLREG.

Key Takeaways

1

Both vessels alter to starboard — pass port to port

2

Head-on is when you see both sidelights or masthead lights in line

3

If in doubt, assume it is a head-on situation

4

Only applies to power-driven vessels

Common Mistakes

Altering to port in a head-on situation

Not recognizing a nearly head-on situation as head-on

Test Your Knowledge

Practise this topic and review the explanation for each answer.

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Frequently asked questions about COLREG Rule 14

Which way do two power-driven vessels turn in a head-on situation?

Each shall alter her course to starboard so that each passes on the port side of the other (Rule 14(a)). This applies when they are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision.

How do you recognise a head-on situation at night?

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 (Rule 14(b)).

What if you are in doubt whether a head-on situation exists?

Assume that it does exist and act accordingly (Rule 14(c)) — which means altering course to starboard. Rule 14 applies only to power-driven vessels, and failing to recognise a nearly head-on situation as head-on is a common mistake.