🔍 Key Concepts

• Narrow Channels Rule (Rule 9) of the Navigation Rules • The idea of staying out of the way of opposing traffic in a confined waterway • How large vessels with deep draft use the deepest, most navigable part of the channel

💭 Think About

• In a narrow or busy channel, where would opposing traffic most predictably expect to see you? • Which side of the channel is similar to how vehicles are expected to drive on a roadway in countries that follow the COLREGS standard? • Think about where large, deep-draft ships must go in the channel, and where smaller vessels should position themselves to avoid impeding them.

✅ Before You Answer

• Review Rule 9 – Narrow Channels in the Navigation Rules and note what it says about which side to keep to when safe and practicable. • Eliminate any option that would place you directly in the path of deep-draft traffic that is constrained to the channel center. • Confirm which side the rule specifies for both International & Inland when proceeding along a narrow channel or fairway.