Many enjoy spending the midsummer celebration on the water. Fintraffic and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom would like to remind everyone that the rules on giving way are also part of basic boating skills: There is no right of way in boating, there are only obligations to give way. Please review these before heading out in a boat.
Many are currently heading out to enjoy the Finnish summer on the water. In order to make boating and encounters as safe as possible also during Midsummer, every boat master should be fully aware of the give-way obligations and observe them diligently.
“There are clear rules in place for boating and knowing these is the responsibility of every boat master. It is regrettable how common it is to come across boaters who are unfamiliar with the rules. Someone may believe that they have the right of way when there is no absolute right of way in boating - everyone is ultimately obliged to give way to prevent a collision. Especially boaters, who are beginners, should familiarise themselves properly with the rules before heading out. It is of course also a good idea for experienced boaters to review of the rules,” reminds Kimmo Patrakka, Chief Advisor at Traficom.
During the summer, a large number of passenger ships and cargo vessels also sail on the Finnish coast. To ensure that encounters remain safe, the master of a recreational boat should always be particularly vigilant when navigating on merchant shipping lanes.
“It is important from the perspective of a ship’s bridge, that recreational boaters maintain a good distance from a ship. Merchant vessels sail in narrow and rocky lanes along very precisely defined routes, and due to their deep draught and slow manoeuvrability, they cannot swerve to avoid fast-moving boats. At the same time, it is worth keeping in mind that boats, including sailboats, must always give way to a ship,” sums up Samu Koski, Manager of Fintraffic’s Gulf of Finland Vessel Traffic Service Centre.
Review the rules for boats on giving way
There is no right of way in boating, there are only obligations to give way. Review the rules for giving way here before heading out on the waters.
- Are you about to overtake another boat? Pass them on the side you feel looks safer. Be aware of the impact the waves caused by your boat will have on the other boat. Waves coming in from the side may violently rock a boat.
- Are you approaching another oncoming motorboat? When two motorboats are approaching each other from opposite directions, both give way to the right. In general, boats must travel along the right-hand side of the fairway. This ensures that encounters with oncoming traffic are smooth and safe.
- When the courses of two motorboats are set to cross, the boat approaching from the left is obliged to give way, i.e. they give way to the boat coming from the right. If possible, the boat approaching from the left should give way by steering behind the stern of the boat approaching from the right.
- Are you the master of a motorboat approaching a sailboat? A motorboat must give way to a sailboat.
- Are you out on a sailboat? Sailboats give way to each other according to the wind. If the sailboats have the wind on the same side, the windward boat should give way. If the sailboats have the wind on different sides, the boat on port tack (wind on the left-hand side) must give way. An engine-powered sailboat is considered a motorboat and will no longer need to be given priority over other boats.
Also remember this:
- Are you travelling in the merchant shipping lane? Boats, including sailboats, must always give way to a ship.
