col reg

• Rule 1 - Application


  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
• Rule 3 - General Definitions

  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
• Rule 2 - Responsibility


  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
• COLREGS: INTERNATIONAL REGULATION IN PREVENTION

  Rules and regulations governing vessels upon the high seas and in connected waters navigable by seagoing vessels
• Restricted visibility


  Any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes
• Length and Breadth of a vessel

  Her length overall and greatest breadth
• Vessel constrained by her draught

  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
• Factors to consider in determining safe speed for vessels with operational radar

  1. Characteristics, efficiency, and limitations of the radar equipment

  2. Constraints imposed by the radar range scale

  3. Effect on radar detection of sea state, weather, and other sources of interference

  4. Possibility of small vessels, ice, and other floating objects not being detected by radar at an adequate range

  5. Number, location, and movement of vessels detected by radar

  6. Assessment of visibility using radar to determine the range of vessels or other objects in the vicinity
• Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre


  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
• Safe Speed


  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
• Underway


  A vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground
• Factors to consider in determining safe speed

  1. State of visibility

  2. Traffic density

  3. Manoeuvrability of the vessel

  4. Presence of background light

  5. State of wind, sea, and current

  6. Proximity of navigational hazards

  7. Draught in relation to the available depth of water
• Wing-In-Ground (WIG) craft


  A multimodal craft which, in its main operational mode, flies in close proximity to the surface by utilizing surface-effect action
• Vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre

  • Vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable or pipeline
  • Vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations
  • Vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway
  • Vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft
  • Vessel engaged in mine-clearance operations
  • Vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course
• Vessels in sight of one another


  When one can be observed visually from the other
• Rules regarding the risk of collision and action to avoid collision are outlined
• Action to Avoid Collision

  1. Any action taken to avoid collision shall be positive, made in ample time, and with due regard to good seamanship

  2. Alteration of course and/or speed should be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel

  3. If there is sufficient sea room, alteration of course alone may be the most effective action

  4. Action taken to avoid collision shall result in passing at a safe distance

  5. If necessary, a vessel shall slacken speed or stop to avoid collision
• Risk of Collision

  1. Every vessel shall use all available means to determine if risk of collision exists

  2. Proper use of radar equipment should be made to obtain early warning of risk of collision

  3. Assumptions shall not be made on scanty information

  4. Considerations for determining if risk of collision exists include compass bearing changes of approaching vessels
• Vessel in Narrow Channels

  1. A vessel proceeding along a narrow channel shall keep near to the outer limit on her starboard side

  2. Vessels of less than 20 meters or sailing vessels shall not impede the passage of vessels in narrow channels

  3. Vessels engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of other vessels in narrow channels
• Vessel shall not cross a narrow channel or fairway if


  Such crossing impedes the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within such channel or fairway
• Vessel passage regulations

  Various rules and guidelines for vessel navigation in narrow channels, fairways, and traffic separation schemes
• Vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of

  A power-driven vessel following a traffic lane
• Vessel shall not use an inshore traffic zone when


  She can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the adjacent traffic separation scheme
• Vessel navigating in areas near the terminations of traffic separation schemes shall

  Do so with particular caution
• Vessel not using a traffic separation scheme shall avoid it by


  As wide a margin as is practicable
• Vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall


  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
• Vessel shall not impede the passage of

  Vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway
• Any vessel shall

  Avoid anchoring in a narrow channel if the circumstances of the case admit
• Vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of

  Any other vessel navigating within a narrow channel or fairway
• Actions that shall not impede vessel passage

  • Vessels of less than 20 metres in length or sailing vessels
  • Vessels engaged in fishing
• Vessel shall avoid crossing traffic lanes but if obliged to do so

  Cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow
• Vessel shall avoid anchoring in a traffic separation scheme or in areas near its terminations

  So far as practicable
• Traffic separation schemes

  Rules and guidelines for vessels using traffic separation schemes
• Vessel nearing a bend or an area of a narrow channel or fairway

  Shall navigate with particular alertness and caution and shall sound the appropriate signal prescribed in Rule 34(e)
• Vessel other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane shall not normally enter a separation zone or cross a separation line except

  In cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger, to engage in fishing within a separation zone
• Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when engaged in an operation for the maintenance of safety of navigation in a traffic separation scheme

  Is exempted from complying with certain rules to carry out the operation
• Vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of

  Any vessel following a traffic lane
• Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre

  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
• Crossing situation


  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