To Be or Not To Be a Narrow Channel

🚢 New Podcast Episode: Understanding Narrow Channels in Practice 

A narrow channel has no formal dimensional definition in COLREGs or any IMO convention. Instead, its status is determined by practical navigational constraints—a point consistently reinforced by admiralty case law.

A waterway is considered a narrow channel when vessels are effectively confined to the dredged or charted track, with limited room for meeting, overtaking, or safely deviating from the route. Depth, width, hydrodynamics, traffic patterns and vessel characteristics all play a role, making “narrowness” a question of fact, not fixed measurements.

🎙️ In this episode, Captain Barry Sadler, Chartered Master Mariner, breaks down:

• How courts, pilots, VTS authorities and the MCA interpret narrow channels

• Why Rule 9 applies more often than many realise

• Common misconceptions that catch officers out during MCA orals

• Real-world examples where misjudging a channel led to risk, confusion, or collision potential

Whether you’re preparing for your MCA Oral Exam or refreshing your professional knowledge, this discussion provides essential insight into one of the most misunderstood navigational features.

Listen now and strengthen your understanding of Rule 9 and safe navigation.