
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC2014]

 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
                  CHAPTER 34--INLAND NAVIGATIONAL RULES
 
                           SUBCHAPTER I--RULES
 
                   Part B--Steering and Sailing Rules
 
         subpart ii--conduct of vessels in sight of one another
 
Sec. 2014. Head-on situation (Rule 14)


(a) Course alterations to starboard; port side passage

    Unless otherwise agreed, when two power-driven vessels are meeting 
on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of 
collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall 
pass on the port side of the other.

(b) Existence of head-on situation

    Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the 
other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead 
lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line or both sidelights and 
by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.

(c) Assumption that head-on situation exists in cases of doubt

    When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists 
she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.

(d) Vessel operating on Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or other specified 
        waters, and proceeding downbound with following current

    Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Rule, a power-driven vessel 
operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the 
Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have 
the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner of 
passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 
34(a)(i), as appropriate.

(Pub. L. 96-591, Sec. 2, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3421; Pub. L. 98-557, 
Sec. 16(c), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2867.)

                       References in Text

    Rule 34(a)(i), referred to in par. (d), is classified to section 
2034(a)(i) of this title.

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of section 2 of Pub. L. 96-591 which 
enacted the Inland Navigational Rules which comprise this subchapter.


                               Amendments

    1984--Par. (a). Pub. L. 98-557, Sec. 16(c)(1), substituted ``Unless 
otherwise agreed, when'' for ``When''.
    Par. (d). Pub. L. 98-557, Sec. 16(c)(2), added par. (d).

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018 of 
this title.
