What does signaling 'I intend to overtake you on your starboard' mean on the water?

Outline to guide the piece

• Open with a quick scene: busy water, radio chatter, a clear signal that keeps everyone safe.

• Explain the signal in plain terms: “I intend to overtake you on your starboard” means the overtaking vessel plans to pass on the other vessel’s right-hand side.

• Break down why that matters: clear communication, predictable behavior, and reduced risk in tight channels.

• Describe how both vessels should respond: what the overtaker does, what the vessel being overtaken should do, and where the lines of responsibility lie under COLREGs.

• Add a small, practical tangent: common situations where overtaking happens, plus quick tips for staying safe.

• Close with a concise recap and a reminder of the bigger point: signals are there to make navigation safer for everyone on the water.

What the signal really means in plain language

Let’s imagine you’re piloting a small workboat or a cruising sailboat and you spot another vessel ahead who seems to be moving a touch slower or is sitting in your intended path. If that other vessel broadcasts or communicates, “I intend to overtake you on your starboard,” the meaning is straightforward: the overtaking vessel plans to pass on the other vessel’s right side. In nautical speech, that’s the starboard side—the side most people think of as the “right-hand” side when facing forward.

This isn’t a request for you to change course. It’s a heads-up that a maneuver is about to happen, and you should expect the overtaking vessel to move past you on your right. The purpose is safety: by signaling this intent, both boats can stay predictable and avoid sudden shifts that might trap either vessel in a dangerous space.

A quick refresher on the terms you’ll hear at sea

• Starboard and port: Starboard is the right side; port is the left side. It’s a simple convention that helps two boats identify directions quickly, especially when a radio or a loud engine is making conversation tricky.

• Overtaking vs crossing: Overtaking means one vessel is moving up from behind another and will pass either to the starboard or port side. Crossing is when two vessels’ paths intersect head-on or at an angle; that’s where COLREGs give very specific guidance about who should maneuver.

• Stand-on vs give-way: In crossing situations, one vessel is the stand-on (the one that should keep its course) and the other is the give-way (the one that should alter course to avoid collision). In overtaking, the rules are a bit different—the overtaking vessel is responsible for its own maneuver, but safety still depends on both boats acting predictably.

Why the signal matters beyond a single moment

Navigation in busy waterways—near harbors, canals, or tight channels—can feel like a slow-motion ballet. A lot of the risk comes from uncertainty: you don’t know what the other boat is thinking, and a last-second turn can turn a routine pass into a near-m miss or worse. A clear signal about intent—like overtaking on the starboard—acts like a traffic sign at sea. It says, “Here’s what I’m going to do, and here’s where you fit in.” That shared understanding is what keeps the waterway flowing smoothly and people safe.

How to respond, depending on which vessel you are

• If you’re the overtaken vessel: Keep your current course and speed unless you see a clear reason to change. Don’t speed up, slow down abruptly, or alter direction in a way that would surprise the other boat. The goal is to be a steady, predictable target so the overtaking vessel can pass safely.

• If you’re the overtaking vessel: Do your best to complete the maneuver with ample room, keeping a safe distance from the other boat. Communicate your intentions clearly, whether by radio, horn, or lights if visibility is low. Stay aware of wind, current, and nearby traffic—don’t push the pass when conditions are marginal.

• If the weather or visibility is poor: Slowing down and either postponing the maneuver or choosing a safer passing angle may be prudent. In rough seas or dense fog, the margin for error shrinks, and clear signals become even more essential.

A few real-world scenarios where this signal pops up

• In a busy harbor approach, a small fishing boat might tell you, “I intend to overtake you on your starboard,” so you know you’ll see a boat glide past your right shoulder while you hold your course.

• On a narrow channel between piers, a larger vessel may announce the same intent because there’s only one safe side to pass. You’ll keep your channel, and they’ll slip by on the other side with enough distance to avoid wake.

• At anchorages where tugboats and ferries float in a small space, overtaking on the starboard becomes a practical choice to minimize the risk of hitting a vessel that’s maneuvering differently than you expected.

Common misconceptions to watch out for

• Thinking “overtake” means the other boat has to slow down or change its mind. Not at all. The overtaker is responsible for the safe execution of the pass.

• Believing the stand-on/give-way rules apply the same way in overtaking as in crossing. They’re related, but overtaking has its own logic: the overtaker must maneuver safely, and the other vessel should maintain its current course unless it’s making a riskier situation worse.

• Assuming signals are optional or decorative. In congested waterways, clear signals help everyone stay aligned and avoid collisions.

A few practical tips to keep this signal sailing smoothly

• Stay alert to lights and horns that indicate maneuver intentions, especially at dawn, dusk, or in fog.

• Maintain a lookout not just for the other vessel but for the space you’ll need to pass safely—wake, spray, and engine noise all change how close you can get.

• If you’re unsure about another vessel’s intent, ask for clarification via radio (VHF) or sound multiple short blasts to confirm. Better to verify than to guess wrong.

• Keep a comfortable margin of safety. Even with a signal, you want more room than the bare minimum to absorb any unexpected movement.

• Practice mental quick-checks: can you see the other vessel’s stern clearly? Is there enough water under the keel to maneuver without rubbing sides? Are other boats closing in from cross-currents?

A brief, friendly recap you can hold in your head

• The phrase “I intend to overtake you on your starboard” means the overtaking vessel plans to pass on the other vessel’s right side.

• The overtaking vessel is responsible for the safe execution of the pass; the vessel being overtaken should maintain its current course and speed, unless safety requires a different action.

• This signal is all about clear communication in a busy, variable environment. The goal is predictable behavior, not surprises.

If you love the sea, you probably love the clarity signals bring

The ocean is generous, but it is also unforgiving if you misread a sign or misjudge a move. Signals like overtaking on the starboard aren’t just etiquette; they’re practical safety tools that help ships and small craft share a finite space. When you know what the other boat intends, you can respond with confidence, keep your crew and passengers safe, and keep that sense of calm that comes from good seamanship.

A final thought: when you’re out there, think of the signals as a shared language. A short message, a clear intention, a predictable maneuver—the kind of simple exchange that turns a potentially risky moment into a smooth, professional, almost routine passage. The more you’re fluent in that language, the less the water will feel like a battlefield and more like a well-run traffic system where every vessel has room to move.

In the end, the starboard overtaking signal isn’t just a line on a checklist. It’s a compact pact between sailors: I’ll pass you on your right; you keep your course; we both stay safe. And that small, steady agreement is exactly what keeps waves from turning into wake-filled trouble.