---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 83.06"
title: "33"
number: "83.06"
heading: "Safe speed (Rule 6)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/83.06"
---

# §83.06. Safe speed (Rule 6).


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.

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, as amended by USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 68621, Nov. 18, 2014]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 2071; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

### Source

Source: USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, as amended by USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 68621, Nov. 18, 2014]