1. Name:
Nautical Rules of the Road
1. What is the official name for the International Rules of the Road?
2. What is the name of the act that Congress established in 1980 to govern the U.S. Inland
waterways?
3. What is the purpose of the rules of the road?
4. When is a vessel considered to be underway?
5. Proper lights must be show by all vessels from to ?
6. What are the colors of the following running lights?
Port –
Starboard –
Stern -
7. What is the white light in the fore part of the ship called? T
8. What is the white light in the aftermast of the ship called?
9. What type of vessel require masthead lights?
What type of vessel require range lights?
10. under what condition would a white masthead light be an “all-around” light rather that a
sector light?
11. How much higher is the Range light above the Masthead light?
12. When are stern lights required?
13. What side of a vessel is called the port side, and what color is its sidelight?
14. What side of a vessel is called the starboard side, and what color is its sidelight?
15. The upper white lights on a ship must be visible from at least miles. Port and
starboard sidelights, as well as the stern light, must be visible from at least miles.
16. On a dark night you notice the lights of a supertanker. You see a single white light. What is
the direction of the supertanker in relation to your ship?
17. If you see the lights of another ship directly ahead and see a red light on the left and a white
light on the right, what direction is this ship heading relative to your ship?
18. What are the white, green, and red lights called on seagoing vessels?
19. What is the memory aid used when looking for the special identifying lights of a power-drive
pilot boat at night?
20. What are the light signals for a Vessel at anchor?
Vessels more than 50 meters in length –
Vessels more than 50 meters in length –
21. What is the color and the shape of a “day shape”?

2. 22. What do two masthead lights in a vertical line represent?
23. What would three white lights in a vertical line represent?
24. A ship showing two red lights or two “day shapes” one over the other, is in what condition?
25. What does a vessel not under command mean?
26. At night, what is a good memory aid you can use for a vessel not under command?
27. When lights are required, the three black balls (day shapes) displayed by minesweepers are
replaced with what?
28. What is the light signal for a submarine running on the surface?
29. In regards to Whistle Signals, what is the difference between Inland Rules and
International Rules?
30. What would the following whistle blasts indicate?
One short blasts –
Two short blasts –
Three short blasts –
Five short blasts –
31. What probably causes more collisions than any other part of the rules of the road?
32. Under international rules, the ship that has the responsibility to keep clear of the other
vessel is called what?
33. The vessel that has the Right of Way is called what?
34. What is the name for a situation where your range to another ship is decreasing but the
bearing to that ship is not?
35. In meeting situations, both vessels are give way. Power vessels meeting in a genuine head-
to-head situation are required to pass ?
36. What is the old nautical saying that concerning two whistle blasts?
37. In a crossing situation, the power vessel having the other to starboard is called what?
38. In inland waters, the overtaking vessel must do what?
When is it allowed to pass?
39. When can a vessel depart from the requirements of the rules of the road?
40. When in dense fog, what is the difference between hearing a whistle and a bell?