🔍 Key Concepts

• Rule 18 – Responsibilities Between Vessels (pecking order of who keeps clear of whom) • The relative status of a sailing vessel compared to power-driven, fishing, restricted in ability to maneuver, and not under command • Meaning of special conditions: not under command (NUC) and restricted in ability to maneuver (RAM)

💭 Think About

• First, mentally list the hierarchy of vessel priority in Rule 18. Where does a sailing vessel sit in that list? • Ask yourself: in the Rules, is a sailing vessel generally required to keep out of the way of these special-condition vessels, or do those vessels keep clear of her? • Think about which vessel type has the least ability to maneuver safely and therefore usually gets the highest priority.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the exact wording of Rule 18(a) in the Navigation Rules to see which vessels a sailing vessel shall keep out of the way of. • Check the definitions of vessel not under command and vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver in Rule 3 to understand their limitations. • Confirm which of the listed vessel types is not one that a sailing vessel must keep clear of under Rule 18.