1. These Rules apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels
2. Special rules by appropriate authorities for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes, or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels are not interfered with
3. Special rules by the Government of any State for additional station or signal lights, shapes, or whistle signals for ships of war, vessels under convoy, or fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet are not interfered with
4. Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules
5. Vessels of special construction or purpose unable to fully comply with the Rules shall comply with alternative provisions determined by their Government
Definitions for terms like 'vessel', 'power-driven vessel', 'sailing vessel', 'vessel engaged in fishing', 'seaplane', 'vessel not under command', 'vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre' are provided
1. No vessel, owner, master, or crew shall be exonerated from consequences of neglect to comply with these Rules or required precautions
2. Compliance with these Rules should consider all dangers of navigation and collision, as well as any special circumstances that may necessitate a departure from the Rules to avoid immediate danger
A power-driven vessel which because of her draught in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water, is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following
A vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and therefore is unable to keep out of the way of another vessel
Vessels shall proceed at a safe speed so that they can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions
Proceed in the appropriate traffic lane, keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation zone, join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane
Engaged in an operation for the laying, servicing or picking up of a submarine cable within a traffic separation scheme is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation
When two sailing vessels are approaching one another
1. One of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows:
2. When each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other
3. When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward
4. If a vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or on the starboard side, she shall keep out of the way of the other
When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel