StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

33 CFR §83.06

Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be among those taken into account:
(a) By all vessels:
(i) The state of visibility; (ii) The traffic density including concentration of fishing vessels or any other vessels; (iii) The maneuverability of the vessel with special reference to stopping distance and turning ability in the prevailing conditions; (iv) At night, the presence of background light such as from shore lights or from back scatter of her own lights; (v) The state of wind, sea, and current, and the proximity of navigational hazards; (vi) The draft in relation to the available depth of water. (b) Additionally, by vessels with operational radar: (i) The characteristics, efficiency and limitations of the radar equipment; (ii) Any constraints imposed by the radar range scale in use; (iii) The effect on radar detection of the sea state, weather, and other sources of interference; (iv) The possibility that small vessels, ice and other floating objects may not be detected by radar at an adequate range; (v) The number, location, and movement of vessels detected by radar; (vi) The more exact assessment of the visibility that may be possible when radar is used to determine the range of vessels or other objects in the vicinity.