🔍 Key Concepts

• Inland Rule 34(a) – Maneuvering and warning signals within 1/2 mile • Meaning of one short blast vs two short blasts for meeting situations inland • How a starboard-to-starboard vs port-to-port pass looks from each vessel’s bridge when meeting on a river

💭 Think About

• According to Inland Rule 34(a), when two power-driven vessels are meeting or crossing within 1/2 mile, what are they required to do with the whistle, even if they do not need to alter course? • From the helmsman’s view on vessel A and on vessel B, will they each be leaving the other vessel on their port side or on their starboard side based on the illustration? • Once you decide whether the pass is port-to-port or starboard-to-starboard, which whistle signal (one or two blasts) matches that intention under the Inland rules?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify that the vessels are within 1/2 mile, which triggers Inland Rule 34(a) whistle requirements. • Confirm from the diagram whether the other vessel lies mainly on each ship’s port bow or starboard bow – that tells you port-to-port vs starboard-to-starboard. • Match the determined passing side to the correct Inland whistle: one short blast = leave you on my port side; two short blasts = leave you on my starboard side.