---
title: "SERA.3230 Water operations — ANNEX: Rules of the Air, SERA · Avioverse"
description: "When two aircraft or an aircraft and a vessel are approaching one another and there is a risk of collision, the aircraft shall proceed with careful…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-3/sera-3230"
---

# SERA.3230 Water operations

ANNEX: Rules of the Air · Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

IR Implementing rule

## SERA.3230 Water operations

(a) When two [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) or an aircraft and a vessel are approaching one another and there is a risk of collision, the aircraft shall proceed with careful regard to existing circumstances and conditions including the limitations of the respective craft.

(1) Converging. An aircraft which has another aircraft or a vessel on its right shall give way so as to keep well clear.

(2) Approaching head-on. An aircraft approaching another aircraft or a vessel head-on, or approximately so, shall alter its [heading](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/heading) to the right to keep well clear.

(3) Overtaking. The aircraft or vessel which is being overtaken has the right of way, and the one overtaking shall alter its heading to keep well clear.

(4) Landing and taking off. Aircraft landing on or taking off from the water shall, in so far as practicable, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation.

(b) Lights to be displayed by aircraft on the water. At [night](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/night) or during any other period prescribed by the [competent authority](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/competent-authority), all aircraft on the water shall display lights as required by the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, unless it is impractical for them to do so, in which case they shall display lights as closely similar as possible in characteristics and position to those required by the International Regulations.

IR · SERA.3230 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ​Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

GM Guidance material

## GM1 SERA.3230 Water operations

INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA

In addition to the provisions of SERA.3230, rules set forth in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, developed by the International Conference on Revision of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (London, 1972), may be applicable in certain cases.

GM · GM1 SERA.3230 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2013/013/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

GM Guidance material

## GM1 SERA.3230(b) Water operations

LIGHTS TO BE DISPLAYED BY [AIRCRAFT](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) ON THE WATER

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea specify that the rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise. Any lesser period between sunset and sunrise established in accordance with SERA.3230(b) cannot, therefore, be applied in areas where the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea apply, e.g. on the high seas.

GM · GM1 SERA.3230(b) — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2013/013/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

[All rules in SECTION 3 General rules and collision avoidance](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-3)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 26 Aug 2025, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.