USCG Exam Prep · 🚦 Interactive Trainer
Rules of the Road — Give-Way & Stand-On
Rules of the Road needs 90% to pass. Seeing the encounter develop — and watching a wrong turn cause a close-quarters situation — sticks far better than memorizing.
Tested on the Rules of the Road module (90% to pass) on every USCG exam. Binnacle School has 322 Rules of the Road questions in the bank.
What it is
The Navigation Rules (COLREGS and Inland) decide which of two vessels keeps clear and which holds course. You classify the meeting as head-on, crossing, or overtaking, identify whether you are the give-way or stand-on vessel, and take the correct action — early and substantial — to avoid collision.
How the USCG tests it
The Rules of the Road module is the most heavily weighted on the exam and requires a 90% score. Questions describe an encounter and ask for the situation, your role, and the proper action. The encounter simulator shows the two vessels from above, lets you call give-way or stand-on and pick the action, then plays out the result so risk of collision and CBDR are visible.
Key concepts
Two power-driven vessels meeting nearly head-on each alter course to starboard and pass port-to-port. Neither 'has the right of way' — both act.
The vessel that has the other on her own STARBOARD side is the give-way vessel and must keep clear; the other is the stand-on vessel.
Any vessel coming up from more than 22.5° abaft another's beam is overtaking and must keep clear until finally past and clear — even a sailing vessel overtaking a power-driven one.
The give-way vessel takes early, substantial action — for a crossing, alter to starboard and pass astern, never cross ahead. The stand-on vessel keeps course and speed (Rule 17) but must act if collision becomes unavoidable.
Worked example
At night you see another power-driven vessel's red sidelight crossing from your starboard bow, range closing on a steady bearing. What do you do?
She is on your starboard side and crossing — you are the give-way vessel (Rule 15). The steady bearing with closing range is risk of collision. Alter course to starboard and pass astern of her; do not cross ahead and do not turn to port.
Practice Rules Encounters hands-on
The interactive trainer generates a fresh problem every time and checks your work against exam-accurate math. Free with a Binnacle School account, on web and iOS.
Frequently asked questions
What score do I need on the Rules of the Road exam?
90% — higher than the 70% required on other USCG modules. It is the most heavily weighted part of the deck exam, so most candidates start their studying here.
In a crossing situation, who is the give-way vessel?
The vessel that has the other on her own starboard side gives way and must keep clear, normally by altering to starboard and passing astern. The other vessel stands on, holding course and speed.
What is the give-way vessel's correct action?
Take early and substantial action to keep well clear (Rule 16). In a crossing, that means altering to starboard and passing astern of the other vessel — never crossing ahead and never turning to port toward her.