The Navigation Rules separately address overtaking, head-on and crossing situations. Correctly identifying the encounter is necessary before applying stand-on and give-way responsibilities.

Rules do not eliminate the duty to maintain a proper lookout, assess collision risk and take effective action. A stand-on vessel may still need to act when the give-way vessel does not.

Do not make close-quarters decisions from a website calculator. Study the current Rules and use all available visual, radar, AIS and radio information appropriately.