33 CFR § 83.13 - Overtaking (Rule 13).

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s83.13"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 83.13 - Overtaking (Rule 13)."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "83.13"
section_name: "Overtaking (Rule 13)."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "E"
subchapter_name: "INLAND NAVIGATION RULES"
part_number: "83"
part_name: "NAVIGATION RULES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 2071; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3."
regulatory_source: "USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "83"
---


# 83.13 Overtaking (Rule 13).

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in Rules 4 through 18 (§§ 83.04 through 83.18), any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

(b) A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam; that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see only the sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.

(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly.

(d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear.