“Who has right of way here?” – on the water that question is misleading. Unlike road traffic, boats have no right of way. There are only give-way rules: one vessel must give way, the other holds her course. This article explains the key collision-avoidance rules (COLREG / KVR) – a central topic in every SBF exam.
Right of Way? There Is None.
The collision regulations (COLREG / German SeeSchStrO) deliberately speak not of right of way but of the give-way vessel and the stand-on vessel:
- The give-way vessel must take early and obvious action to keep clear.
- The stand-on vessel must maintain her course and speed, so the other can rely on it.
Important: even the stand-on vessel must act if a collision would otherwise become unavoidable. Safety always overrides the rule.
The Hierarchy of Vessels
Which vessel must give way follows a hierarchy. Principle: whoever can maneuver more easily gives way to whoever has it harder. From “must give way” (bottom) to “has priority” (top):
- Vessel not under command (e.g. engine failure) – highest priority
- Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver (e.g. dredging, towing)
- Vessel engaged in fishing
- Sailing vessel
- Power-driven vessel – most likely to give way
Memory aid: a power-driven vessel gives way to a sailing vessel, the sailing vessel to a fishing vessel, the fishing vessel to one restricted in maneuvering – and everyone to a vessel not under command.
Two Power-Driven Vessels
Head-On
When two motorboats meet on exactly opposite courses, both turn to starboard (right) and pass port to port. There is no stand-on vessel here – both act.
Crossing
When courses cross: the vessel that has the other on her starboard side must give way. So if the other boat comes from the right (starboard), you give way – ideally passing behind it. The other boat is the stand-on vessel.
Overtaking
Overtaking has its own rule: the overtaking vessel must always give way – whether motor or sail. The overtaken vessel stands on. You are overtaking if you approach another vessel from a direction more than 22.5° abaft her beam (i.e. “from behind”).
Two Sailing Vessels
When two sailing boats meet, the wind decides:
- Different tack (wind from different sides): the boat with the wind on its port side gives way.
- Same tack (wind from the same side): the windward boat (closer to the wind) gives way to the leeward one.
Memory aid: “port tack gives way to starboard tack” and “windward gives way to leeward.”
In a Narrow Channel
In narrow channels and on inland waterways, special rules apply:
- Vessels must keep as far to the right (starboard) as possible.
- Small vessels (under 20 m) and sailing vessels must not impede the passage of a vessel that can navigate only within the channel (e.g. a large commercial ship).
- Through-traffic in the channel generally has priority.
How to Approach Exam Questions
For give-way questions, a fixed scheme helps:
- What am I, what is the other? (power, sail, fishing …) → check the hierarchy.
- Same type: determine the encounter (head-on / crossing / overtaking).
- Apply the starboard rule or windward/leeward.
- When in doubt, give way – safety over being right.
In the practical exam the examiner asks typical situations: “A sailing boat is coming from starboard ahead – what do we do?” With the scheme in mind, you answer confidently.
Conclusion
On the water there’s no right of way, only the duties to give way and to stand on. The hierarchy (power gives way to sail gives way to fishing gives way to restricted gives way to not-under-command), the starboard rule for crossing motorboats, and “windward gives way to leeward” for sailing vessels are the key building blocks. Master the scheme and you’ll solve most exam questions confidently. In the Boatpass app you can train the give-way and traffic-rule questions specifically with the official ELWIS question catalog.