CFR

83.14—Head-on situation (Rule 14).

(a) Course alterations to starboard; port side passage. 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) Existence of head-on situation. 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 or both sidelights and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

(c) Assumption that head-on situation exists in cases of doubt. 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) Vessel operating on Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or other specified waters, and proceeding downbound with following current. 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)(1), as appropriate.

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