But when on your port is seen
A vessel with a light of green
There’s not much for you to do
The green light must keep clear of you
But more important perhaps than all is the universal rule that all boats must keep a good lookout, and the following verse indicates this:
Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good lookout
Should there not be room to turn
Shift your helm and pass astern.
The last line is most important. Never under any circumstances attempt to cross the bows of another moving vessel. If you do and accident occurs it will be your own fault. A boat crossing another’s bows always does so at her own risk. No matter how you are heading, no matter how much of a hurry you may be in, no matter how much trouble it may involve, if you are approaching another boat of any kind so that your course will cross hers, remember the last verse and shift your helm and pass astern.