Lookout
Use sight, hearing, and all available means appropriate to the circumstances to understand traffic and hazards.
US rules of the road
Navigation Rules practice for real decisions on the water
Practice the reasoning behind lookout, safe speed, collision risk, crossing situations, and action to avoid collision. Start with five explained scenarios.
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Pick an answer and check it. The goal is to understand the reasoning, not just memorize a letter — every explanation says why.
5 questions · free
Question 1 of 5
Start with the map
A safe answer starts before vessels get close
The Navigation Rules form a decision system rather than a list of isolated right-of-way facts. A vessel must maintain a proper lookout, proceed at a safe speed, assess collision risk, and take early and substantial action when required.
US waters may be governed by Inland Rules or International Rules. Many principles overlap, but some signals and provisions differ. Always identify the applicable rules for the waters where you operate.
Safe speed
Choose a speed that allows effective action and stopping within a distance appropriate to visibility, traffic, and conditions.
Collision risk
Treat steady relative bearing with decreasing range as a warning and avoid assumptions based on limited information.
Early action
Make course or speed changes large enough to be readily apparent and continue monitoring until finally past and clear.
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