RULES OF THE ROAD

COLLISION AVOIDANCE
 Purpose of Scope of the Rules of
the Road

• Sources:
– 1972 COLREGS (International Rules)
• Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea
• Amended in 2003 by the IMO

• NOTE: Navigation Rules have the force of law.

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• COMPREHEND THE PURPOSE AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RULES
OF THE ROAD

• KNOW THE TERMINOLOGY OF THE RULES OF

THE ROAD

• COMPREHEND THE BENEFITS OF ANALYSIS OF

ACTUAL GROUNDINGS / COLLISIONS

• APPLY THE NAVIGATION RULES TO DETERMINE

OWN VESSEL RESPONSIBILITY AND “RIGHT OF
WAY” IN APPROACH SITUATIONS
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES (CONT)
• UNDERSTAND THE RULES WHICH GOVERN THE
CONDUCT OF VESSELS “WITHIN SIGHT OF EACH
OTHER”

• UNDERSTAND THE RULES THAT GOVERN

CONDUCT OF VESSELS IN ALL CONDITIONS OF
VISIBILITY

• UNDERSTAND THE RULES THAT APPLY TO

RESTRICTED VISIBILITY

• UNDERSTAND REQUIRED SOUND SIGNALS

 COLLISION PROBLEMS
TOTAL LOSSES AND SERIOUS
CASUALTIES
12%
COLLISIONS

OTHER 12%

HEAVY WX
52%
FIRES/EXPL 12%

STRANDINGS/GROUNDINGS
6%
CAPSIZINGS 6%
 WORST MARITIME DISASTER

• COLLISION BETWEEN FERRY DONA PAZ

AND TANKER VECTOR IN THE
PHILIPPINES IN 1987.

• BOTH SHIPS ENGULFED IN FLAMES

• 4021 LIVES LOST

 FACTORS IN COLLISIONS
• INEFFICIENT WATCH KEEPING
• EXCESSIVE SPEED
• LACK OF ASSESSMENT OF THE
SITUATION
• LACK OF EARLY POSITIVE ACTION
• PASSING OR OVERTAKING TOO CLOSE
• FAILURE TO OBSERVE TRAFFIC SCHEMES
• INCORRECT LIGHTS AND SIGNALS
• MECHANICAL FAILURE
• NEGLIGENT MANEUVERING
 HISTORY
• INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

• FIRST RULES IN 1863 BRITAIN

• IN 1948 THE INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCE OF SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA

• 1972 INT’L CONF- SOURCE OF PRESENT

RULES(COLREGS)
 PARTS OF THE RULES
• PART A –
GENERAL
• PART B –
STEERING AND SAILING RULES
• PART C –
LIGHTS AND SHAPES
• PART D –
SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS
• PART E –
EXEMPTIONS
 PART A - GENERAL

• RULE 1 - APPLICATION

• RULE 2 – RESPONSIBILITY

• RULE 3 – GENERAL DEFINITIONS

SECTION II: CONDUCT OF VESSELS IN
SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER

• RULE 4 - APPLICATION
– ANY CONDITION OF VISIBILITY

• RULE 5 - LOOKOUT
– RADAR AND VISUAL
– ADEQUATE SUPERVISION
– ADEQUATE COMPETENCE
– PROPER COMMS
• RULE 6 - SAFE SPEED

– STATE OF VISIBILITY
– TRAFFIC DENSITY
– MANEUVERABILITY OF VESSEL
– BACKGROUND LIGHT
– WIND, SEA, CURRENT, NAV HAZARDS
– DRAFT WRT AVAIL DEPTH
– CAPABILITY OF RADARS
• RULE 7- RISK OF COLLISION

– USE ALL AVAIL MEANS TO ASSESS SITUATON

– PROPER USE OF EQUIPMENT

– NO ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON SCANTY

INFORMATION – RADAR FOR EXAMPLE

– RISK EXISTS IF:

 IF APPROACHING VESSEL’S BEARING DOESN’T
CHANGE APPRECIABLY.
 ALSO FOR SMALL CHANGES ON A LARGE VESSEL .
• IF ANY DOUBT - RISK OF COLLISION EXISTS
• RULE 8 - ACTION TO AVOID

– POSITIVE, EARLY, OBVIOUS ACTION -

ALTERATIONS IN COURSE AND SPEED SHALL BE LARGE
ENOUGH TO BE READILY APPARENT TO ANOTHER
VESSEL
– CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF ACTION
– AVOID ALTERATIONS OF SPEED ALONE
– GIVE-WAY VESSEL TAKES AMPLE, EARLY
ACTION
– STAND-ON VESSEL NOT RELIEVED OF
OBLIGATIONS
– EXTREMIS: BOTH VESSELS OBLIGATED TO AVOID
COLLISION
 SECTION II
CONDUCT OF VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE
ANOTHER
• RULE 11 - APPLICATION

• RULE 12 - SAILING VESSELS

• RULE 13 - OVERTAKING

• RULE 14 – HEAD ON

• RULE 15 - CROSSING
RULE 11- APPLICATION:
THIS SECTION APPLIES TO VESSELS IN
SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER
RULE 12: SAILING RULES WHEN TWO
SAILING VESSELS ARE APPROACHING:
– IF EACH HAS WIND ON DIFFERENT SIDE,
VESSEL WITH WIND ON PORT SIDE IS
GIVE WAY VESSEL
– IF EACH HAS WIND ON SAME SIDE,
VESSEL WHICH IS WINDWARD IS GIVE
WAY VESSEL
– IF YOU HAVE WIND ON PORT SIDE AND
ARE LEEWARD OF ANOTHER VESSEL,
AND CAN’T TELL WHICH SIDE THE
WIND IS ON FOR HIM, GIVE WAY
Sailing Right of Way
Wind
Sailing Right of Way
Wind
• RULE 16 - ACTION BY GIVE-WAY

• RULE 17 - ACTION BY STAND-ON

• RULE 18 - PECKING ORDER

SECTION III – CONDUCT OF

VESSELS IN RESTRICTED
VISIBILITY
• RULE 19 - RESTRICTED VISIBILITY
RULE 17 - ACTIONS BY STAND-ON VESSEL
MAINTAINCOURSE AND SPEED.
ALTER COURSE IF GIVE-WAY VESSEL HASN’T TAKEN
APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION.


DO NOT ALTER COURSE TO PORT WITH A VESSEL ON PORT SIDE.

DO NOT ALTER COURSE TO PORT WITH A VESSEL ON PORT SIDE.
DO NOT ALTER COURSE TO PORT WITH A VESSEL ON PORT SIDE.
 The Approach Situations
MEETING
BOTH GIVE WAY

CROSSING CROSSING
GIVE WAY STAND ON

270R 090R

OVERTAKING
GIVE WAY
 Who Has the Right-of-Way?
1. Rule 18 says that vessel
Power-driven vessel “A” must keep clear.
at 5 knots A
2. Rule 13 says that vessel
“B” must keep clear.

Vessel restricted in her ability

to maneuver at 15 knots B
 Who Has the Right-of-Way?
Power-driven vessel
at 5 knots A
Vessel restricted in her ability
to maneuver at 15 knots
1. Rule 18 says that vessel
“A” must keep clear.
2. Rule 13 says that vessel
“A” must keep clear.
The answer is that ship “B” must
keep clear. Why? Because the
first line of Rule 18 is: “Except
where rules 9, 10 and 13
otherwise require….” Rule 13
defines overtaking, and it takes
B
precedence.
 RULE 19: RESTRICTED VISIBILITY
- VESSELS NOT WITHIN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER.
 ACTIONS:
 PROCEED AT SAFE SPEED.
 IF DETECTING ANOTHER SHIP BY RADAR ALONE
AND RISK OF COLLISION EXISTS:
 TAKE AVOIDING ACTION IN AMPLE TIME
 AVOID ALTERING COURSE TO PORT FOR A VESSEL
FORWARD OF THE BEAM
 AVOID ALTERING COURSE TOWARDS A VESSEL
ABEAM OR ABAFT THE BEAM EXCEPT WHERE
RISK DOES NOT EXIST.
 WHEN HEARING A FOG SIGNAL FORWARD OF
THE BEAM:
SLOW TO BEAR STEERAGE / REDUCE SPEED IF
NECESSARY.
 NAVIGATION RULES
• THE GIVE-WAY VESSEL

• THE STAND-ON VESSEL

• RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN VESSELS

• ONLY NEW REELS CATCH FISH SO PURCHASE

SOME OFTEN
ONLY NEW REELS CATCH FISH SO
PURCHASE SOME OFTEN
•OVERTAKEN
•NOT UNDER COMMAND (NUC)
•RESTRICTED IN ABILITY TO MANEUVER
•CONSTRAINED BY DRAFT
•FISHING
•SAIL
•POWER
•SEA PLANE
•OVERTAKING
 PART C
LIGHTS AND SHAPES
• RULE 20 - APPLICATION

• RULE 21 – DEFINITIONS ( ARC OF VISIBILITY)

MASTHEAD LIGHT
SIDELIGHTS
STERNLIGHT
TOWING LIGHT
ALL ROUND LIGHT
FLASHING LIGHT
• RULE 22 - VISIBILITY OF LIGHTS (RANGE OF
LIGHTS)
 RULE 23
POWER DRIVEN VESSELS UNDERWAY
• MORE THAN 50M
2 MASTHEAD LIGHTS WHITE 225º
SIDE LIGHTS GREEN / RED 112.5º
STERN LIGHT WHITE 135º
• LESS THAN 50M
1 MASTHEAD LIGHT WHITE 225º
SIDE LIGHTS GREEN / RED 112.5º
STERN LIGHT WHITE 135º
• LESS THAN 12M
1 ALLROUND WHITE LIGHT 360º
SIDELIGHTS GREEN / RED 112.5º
• LESS THAN 7M
1 ALLROUND WHITE LIGHT ( IF PRACTICABLE SIDELIGHTS )
135º

225º
 RULE - 24
TOWING AND PUSHING
YELLOW OVER WHITE VIEW FROM THE STERN

2 WHITES IN A ROW A TUG AND A TOW

3 WHITES IN A ROW A TUG AND TOW 200M OR

TUG 50M OR MORE

4 WHITES IN A ROW TUG MORE THAN 50M AND

TOW 200M OR MORE

1 WHITE STERNLIGHT WILL SHOW

WHEN TUG PUSH TOW

 SHAPES AND LIGHTS
• RULE 24 – EXIBITED BY • RULE 25 – A VESSEL
BOTH THE TOWING UNDER SAIL WHICH IS
VESSEL AND THE VESSEL, ALSO BEING PROPELLED
OR VESSELS, BEING BY MACHINERY.
TOWED WHEN THE
LENGTH OF TOW
EXCEEDS 200M.
 SHAPES AND LIGHTS
• RULE 26 – EXIBITED BY • RULE 27 – A VESSEL
FISHING VESSEL WITH NOT UNDER COMMAND.
NETS EXTENDING MORE
THAN 150M HORIZONTALY.
 SHAPES AND LIGHTS
• RULE 27 – A VESSEL • RULE 27 – A VESSEL
RESTRICTED IN HER ENGAGED IN
ABILITY TO MINESWEEPING.
MANOEUVRE.
 SHAPES AND LIGHTS
• RULE 28 – A VESSEL • RULE 29 – A PILOT BOAT
CONSTRAINED BY HER ON DUTY.
DRAFT.

FLAG H
 SHAPES AND LIGHTS
• RULE 30 – A VESSEL • RULE 30 – A VESSEL
AT ANCHOR. AGROUND.

50 < 1

50 > 2
13. Sailing vessel under 7m or a
boat under oars lantern or a torch.
15. Vessel aground.
17. A sailing vessel under way.
19. Vessel engaged in trawling.
From port side.
21. Vessel being overtaken or
vessel at anchor under 50m length.
23. A vessel constrained by her
draft not making way.
14. An air cushion vessel operating
in the non-displacement mode.
16. Vessel 50m or more from strbd
side.
18. A vessel engaged in fishing but
not when trawling. - outlying gears
over 150m.
20. Vessel at anchor over 50m long.
22. Vessel not under command not
making way.
24. A tug more than 50m and tow
more than 200m.
 FLASHING LIGHTS

SUBMARINE FLASHING YELLOW (MORSE “S”)

HOVERCRAFT FLASHING YELLOW (120 FPM)

LAW ENFORCEMENT FLASHING BLUE

 PART D –
SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS
• RULE 32 - DEFINITIONS
– SHORT BLAST (1 SECOND DURATION)
– PROLONGED BLAST (4 – 6 SECONDS DURATION)

• RULE 33-EQUIPMENT FOR SOUND

SIGNALS
- A VESSEL < 12M, MUST HAVE WHISTLE OR ANY SOUND
SIGNALING APPLIANCE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING THE
PRESCRIBED BLASTS.
- A VESSEL > 12M, MUST HAVE WHISTLE AND A BELL
- A VESSEL > 100M, MUST HAVE ADDITIONAL WITH GONG
 RULE – 34
MANOEUVERING AND WARNING SIGNALS
( EITHER BLAST OR FLASH )
LEAVING, CROSSING, OVERTAKING, OR DANGER:

- ONE SHORT = INTEND TO LEAVE YOU TO PORT

- TWO SHORT = INTEND TO LEAVE YOU TO
STARBOARD
- THREE SHORT = OPERATING IN REVERSE
- FIVE SHORT = DANGER CLEARING YOUR
INTENTIONS
- 1 PROLONGED, 1 SHORT, = OVERTAKEN ACTING IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 9
- 1 PROLONGED, 1 SHORT = NEAR BEND OR CHANNEL
1 PROLONGED OR FAIRWAY
 RULE 35
RESTRICTED VISIBILITY – UNDER WAY
NOT MORE THAN TWO MINUTE INTERVAL

ONE LONG – POWER DRIVEN VESSEL UNDER WAY,

MAKING WAY
TWO LONG – POWER DRIVEN VESSEL UNDER WAY, NOT
MAKING WAY
ONE LONG, TWO SHORT – ALL ENCUMBERED VESSELS
(LIKE SAILBOAT)
ONE LONG, THREE SHORT – BEING TOWED (IF MANNED)
 RULE 35
RESTRICTED VISIBILITY – NOT UNDER WAY
NOT MORE THAN ONE MINUTE INTERVAL
ANCHORED
12 TO < 100 METERS: RAPID RINGING OF BELL 5
SECONDS
> 100 METERS: 5 SEC FORWARD, THEN 5 SEC GONG AFT
MAY ALSO SOUND: SHORT-LONG-SHORT
AGROUND
ADD 3 BELL STROKES BEFORE & AFTER 5 SEC BELL

VESSELS <12 METERS

SHALL MAKE AN EFFICIENT SOUND SIGNAL WHEN
ANCHORED OR AGROUND (< 2 MINUTES)
• RULE - 36
SIGNALS TO ATTRACT ATTENTION

• RULE – 37
DISTRESS SIGNALS

PART E. EXEMPTIONS
RULE – 38
EXEMPTIONS
 ANY

QUESTIONS ?
THE

END