Safety information5In CanadaNational Marine Manufacturers Associa-tion Canada14 McEwan DriveSuite 8Bolton, ONL7E 1H1http://www.nmma.org/In AustraliaBoating Industry Association of Australiahttp://www.biaa.com.au/In New ZealandNZ Marine Industry Associationhttp://www.nzmarine.com/EMU33692Basic boating rules (Rules ofthe road)Just as there are rules that apply when youare driving on streets and highways, thereare waterway rules that apply when you aredriving your boat. These rules are used inter-nationally. (For U.S.A.: and are also en-forced by the United States Coast Guard andlocal agencies.) You should be aware ofthese rules, and follow them whenever youencounter another vessel on the water.EMU33702Steering and sailing rules and soundsignalsWhenever two vessels on the water meetone another, one vessel has the right-of-way; it is called the “stand-on” vessel. Thevessel that does not have the right-of-way iscalled the “give-way” or “burdened” vessel.These rules determine which vessel has theright-of-way, and what each vessel shoulddo.Stand-on vesselThe vessel with the right-of-way has the dutyto continue its course and speed, except toavoid an immediate collision. When youmaintain your direction and speed, the othervessel will be able to determine how best toavoid you.Give-way vesselThe vessel that does not have the right-of-way has the duty to take positive and timelyaction to stay out of the way of the Stand-Onvessel. Normally, you should not cross infront of the vessel with the right-of-way. Youshould slow down or change directions brief-ly and pass behind the other vessel. Youshould always move in such a way that theoperator of the other vessel can see whatyou are doing.“The general prudential rule”This rule is called Rule 2 in the InternationalRules and says,“In obeying and construing these rules dueregard shall be had to all dangers of naviga-tion and collision, and to any special circum-stances, which may render a departure fromthe above rules necessary in order to avoidimmediate danger.”In other words, follow the standard rules ex-cept when a collision will occur unless bothvessels try to avoid each other. If that is thecase, both vessels become “Give-Way” ves-sels.EMU25522Rules when encountering vesselsThere are three main situations that you mayencounter with other vessels which couldlead to a collision unless the Steering Rulesare followed:Meeting: (you are approaching another ves-sel head-on)©2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.