Two power-driven vessels are meeting head on. Who turns and which way?
Both to starboard, passing port to port. Not one of them, each.
Rule 14 (a).
Part of the convention When you can see each other
Two power-driven vessels meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses: each alters course to starboard so they pass port to port. Not one of them, each.
- The situation exists when you see her ahead or nearly ahead, and by night her masthead lights in a line and/or both sidelights.
- If in doubt whether such a situation exists, assume that it does and alter to starboard.
At sea it looks like this
At night you see a red and a green sidelight at the same time with white lights in a line between them. She is bow-on. Both turn to starboard and you pass port to port.
The rule says«…each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.»
Check yourself
How do you recognise a head-on situation at night?
Her lights are ahead or nearly ahead, and you see her masthead lights in a line and/or both sidelights. By day, the corresponding aspect.
Rule 14 (b). In doubt, assume it exists.