Sharing the waterways

A large commercial vessel on the left and a small pleasure craft on the right with an area that shows the large vessel’s blind spot between them.

As the owner of a smaller vessel, knowing how to safely share the waterways with larger vessels is critical to safe boating, especially when navigating busy and congested waterways. We have gathered some tips and resources below to help you stay safe on the water.

Boating safety tips around large vessels and tugs

Keep watch and steer clear of shipping lanes
Be alert! Maintain a proper lookout and be ready to stop, slow down and yield to large vessels
Know and follow the Collision Regulations
Stay a safe distance away from large vessels at all times
Never block the way or cross in front of larger vessels, or go between a tug and its tow
Stay a safe distance away from large vessels at all times
Be predictable. Operate your vessel in a safe manner and signal your intentions to other vessel operators
Always know what's going on around you and be prepared to change course to avoid dangers

Did you know…

Large commercial vessels

Have blind spots. The view is limited from the bridge (wheelhouse).
Captains and crew can't see you if you're too close to their vessel.
Travel faster than they appear.
Need long distances to stop.
Are difficult to turn and can't alter their course quickly; and
Can cause dangerous undercurrents and wake for smaller vessels.

Tug and tow vessels

Are difficult to turn and can't alter their course quickly.
Require plenty of space in every direction.
Have towlines that may trail far behind the tug, which can pose hidden dangers under the water.
A smaller vessel can capsize or get run over if it gets tangled in the lines.

Know who has the right-of-way

Just like driving a vehicle, vessel operators need to know the "rules of the road." The Collision Regulations set out basic rules to help operators avoid hitting or being hit by another vessel. These regulations apply to all vessels, from canoes to supertankers.

Here are some key rules to know:

Note: The information below is a summary of Rules 9, 10, and 18. For the full text, please refer to the Collision Regulations.

Rule 9 – Summary

Vessels less than 20 m in length, including sail boats and those engaged in fishing, shall not block or delay a vessel that can only safely navigate within the narrow channel.
All vessels shall avoid crossing a narrow channel if it will block or delay a vessel that can only safely navigate within the narrow channel.

Rule 10 – Summary

Vessels engaged in fishing shall not block or delay any vessel within a traffic lane; and
Vessels less than 20 m in length and sail boats shall not block or delay any power-driven vessels following a traffic lane.

Rule 18 – Summary (unless mentioned in a previous rule)

All power-driven vessels underway must stay clear of other vessels that are:

not under command,
limited in their ability to move or change course,
ones engaged in fishing, and
sail boats

Sail boats must stay clear of other vessels that are:

not under command,
with limited ability to move or change course,
engaged in fishing

Vessels engaged in fishing shall stay clear of other vessels that are:

not under command, and
with limited ability to move or change course

Know the warning signals

Large vessel operators will use the horn, whistle or lights to warn others if there is a danger of collision. The warning signals to know are:

Horn or whistle	Light	What it means
Five short, rapid blasts	Five short, rapid flashes	Get out of the way now
One short blast	One short flash	I am altering my course to starboard
Two short blasts	Two short flashes	I am altering my course to port
Three short blasts	Three short flashes	I am operating in reverse