Read and understand the Collision Avoidance regulations, which are international. The simplest rule on open water is that if you are crossing the course of another boat so that it seems there might be a collision, then if the other boat is on your starboard side (the right), you must do something to avoid a collision, which could be that you slow down or you might alter course to starboard. If you have the other boat on your port side (the left), you just have to carry on as normal. A good test to check for the possibility of a collision is to watch the direction that the other boat is in, relative to you. If the direction does not change, you are on a collision course.
If a vessel is aground on another boat, it must have had a collision with the boat it is aground on. The coastguard will therefore be investigating the scene with a view to prosecuting one or other of the vessels captains.
Starboard
You should already be aware of a boat approaching from astern ... your head needs to be on a swivel as the pilot at all times. You need to know everything about your surroundings. If you hear this signal you should probably slow down and let them pass safely. Don't crowd them or try to out run them.
A boat collision occurs when the bearing between two boats remains constant over time, indicating that they are on a collision course. This is a dangerous situation that requires immediate evasive action to avoid a potential impact.
If doing so would not endanger your own boat or passengers.
A 14-foot boat operating under oars after dark must show white light to prevent a collision.
When two boats approach each other, they use horn blasts to signal the other about their intentions when it comes to moving to avoid collision. 5 short blasts indicates that the signaling boat is unsure about what the other boat is doing.
I would add that a smaller boat overtaking a larger boat or ship should always give way or alter its course because a larger boat or ship cannot quickly slow down or change its course. The larger vessel already underway should continue, without the added concern of an overtaking smaller boat causing a collision.
its a movie where the boat crashes into some iceburg and everyone dies
While rowing a small utility boat at night a flashlight should be carried to help avoid a collision.
A 14-foot boat operating under oars after dark must show white light to prevent a collision.