🔍 Key Concepts
• Rule 18 – Responsibilities Between Vessels (which vessels must keep out of the way of which)
• The general priority “pecking order”: Not Under Command, Restricted in Ability to Maneuver, Constrained by Draft, Fishing, Sailing, Power‑Driven, Seaplane/WIG
• Difference between a crossing situation (Rule 15) and the hierarchy of vessels (Rule 18)
💭 Think About
• First, list in order which type of vessel normally has the highest priority and which has the lowest; then find where a sailing vessel fits in that list compared with each choice.
• Ask yourself: in open waters, does a sailing vessel ever have to keep clear of all power‑driven vessels in a crossing, or does the normal crossing rule (stand‑on/give‑way by relative bearing) apply between sailing and power‑driven vessels?
• For each option, decide: is this vessel above or below a sailing vessel in the Rule 18 hierarchy? A sailing vessel must keep clear of those above it.
✅ Before You Answer
• Verify in Rule 18 which vessels a sailing vessel is required to keep out of the way of (specifically: Not Under Command, Restricted in Ability to Maneuver, Fishing, etc.).
• Check whether a power‑driven vessel is normally required to keep out of the way of a sailing vessel, or the other way around, when no special circumstances apply.
• Confirm that the words “on open waters” mean no narrow channels, TSS (traffic separation schemes), or special local rules that would change the normal hierarchy.