Source: Wikipedia

Navigation

Terminologies referring to the boat/fishing vessel

Bow – Front
Stern – back
Starboard side – right “green”
Port – left “red”
Gangway – sea ladder

Port and starboard are nautical terms which refer to the left and right sides
(respectively) of a ship or aircraft as perceived by a person on board facing the bow
(front). At night, the port side of a vessel is indicated with a red navigation light and the
starboard side with a green one.

Gangway is located often at the starboard side. The flag or pennant of the ship's captain
or senior officer in command is generally hoisted on the starboard yard.

Mnemonic devices

There are a number of tricks used to remember which side port and starboard each
refer to:

 The sailor left port with a red nose.

 "No, port left"
 The common abbreviation P.S. (for postscript) can be viewed as port ("left") and
starboard ("right").
 "Star light, star bright, starboard is to the right."
 A ship that is out on the ocean has "left port".
 Terms referring to the right side are longer words ("starboard", "right", and
"green"), while terms referring to the other side are shorter words ("port", "left",
and "red").
 The phrase "Any red port left in the can?" can be a useful reminder. It breaks
down as follows:
o The drink port is a fortified red wine—which links the word "port" with
the color red, used for navigational lights.
o "Left" comes from the phrase and so port must be on the left.
o The reference to "can" relates to the fact that port-hand buoys are "can"-
shaped.
 A variation on the above is "Two drops of red port left in the bottle." Also: "Port
wine is red; so is the port light."

Buoys
A port buoy is a lateral buoy used to guide vessels through channels or close to shallow
water. The port buoy is one that a vessel must leave to port when passing upstream. If in
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities area A, the port buoys are red. If in IALA
area B (Japan, the Americas, South Korea, and the Philippines) then the "handedness" of
buoyage is reversed, and a vessel leaves black or green buoys to port.

Mnemonic devices for buoys in IALA area B:

 Best People On Earth = "Black Port on Entering"

 RRR = Red Right Returning

A navigation light

 colored source of illumination on an aircraft, spacecraft, or waterborne vessel, used to

signal a craft's position, heading, and status.
 their placement is mandated by international conventions or civil authorities.

Navigation lighting systems include:

 Right-of-way lights - red light on the left or port side of the craft and a green on the
right or starboard side. These help two craft on a collision course determine who has
right-of-way. When two vessels have crossing paths, each will see a red or green
running light. The one on the port side of the other, which must yield right of way,
will see red, while the one on the starboard side of the other, which has right of way,
will see green.

Marine navigation lights

 1838 the United States passed an act requiring steamboats running between sunset and
sunrise to carry one or more signal lights; color, visibility and location were not
specified;
 1848 the United Kingdom passed regulations that required steam vessels to display
red and green sidelights as well as a white masthead light

 1849 the U.S. Congress extended the light requirements to sailing vessels

 1889 the United States convened the first International Maritime Conference to
consider regulations for preventing collisions

 1890 Washington Conference Rules were adopted by the U.S and became effective
internationally in 1897. Within these rules was the requirement for steamships to
carry a second mast head light.

 1948 Safety of Life at Sea Conference recommended a mandatory second masthead

light solely for power driven vessels over 150 feet in length and a fixed sternlight for
almost all vessels.

 1972 The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea was established
and stipulates the requirements for the navigation lights required on a vessel.
Basic lighting

To avoid collisions, vessels mount navigation lights that permit other vessels to determine the
type and relative angle of a vessel, and thus decide if there is a danger of collision. In general
sailing vessels are required to carry a green light that shines from dead ahead to 2 points
(22½°) abaft the beam on the starboard side, a red light from dead ahead to two points abaft
the beam on the port side and a white light that shines from astern to two points abaft the
beam on both sides. Power driven vessels, in addition to these lights, must carry either one or
two (depending on length) white masthead lights that shine from ahead to two points abaft
the beam on both sides. If two masthead lights are carried then the after one must be higher
than the forward one. Some boats operating in crowded areas may also carry a yellow
flashing beacon for added visibility during day or night.

Lights of special significance

In addition to red, white and green running lights, a combination of red, white and green Mast
Lights placed on a mast higher than all the running lights, and viewable from all directions,
may be used to indicate the type of craft or the service it is performing. See "Quick Guide" in
external links.

 Ships at anchor display one or two white anchor lights (depending on the vessel's
length) that can be seen from all directions. If two lights are shown then the forward
light is higher than the aft one.

 Boats classed as "small" are not compelled to carry navigation lights and may make
use of a handheld torch.

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGS) are
published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and set out, inter alia, the "rules
of the road" or navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea in order to
prevent collisions between two or more vessels.

Although rules for navigating vessels inland may differ, the international rules specify that
they should be as closely in line with the international rules as possible.

Contents
 1 The history of the rules
 2 Summary of the rules
 3 Part A - General
 4 Part B - Steering and sailing
o 4.1 Section I (for any visibility)
o 4.2 Section II (for vessels in sight of one another)
o 4.3 Section III (for restricted visibility)
 5 Part C - Lights and shapes
 6 Part D - Sound and light signals
 7 Part E - Exemption
  8 Annexes
 9 See also
 10 References

 11 External links

The history of the rules

Prior to the development of a single set of international rules and practices, there existed
separate practices and various conventions and informal procedures in different parts of the
world, as advanced by various maritime nations. As a result there were inconsistencies and
even contradictions that gave rise to unintended collisions. Vessel navigation lights for
operating in darkness as well as navigation marks also were not standardized, giving rise to
dangerous confusion and ambiguity between vessels at risk of colliding.

With the advent of steam-powered ships in the mid nineteenth century, conventions for
sailing vessel navigation had to be supplemented with conventions for power driven vessel
navigation.

Sailing vessels:
*limited maneuverability in that they cannot sail directly to windward or into the eye of the
wind;
*cannot be readily navigated in the absence of wind

Steamships:
*can maneuver in all 360 degrees of direction
*can be maneuvered irrespective of the presence or absence of wind.

Summary of the rules

The rules are specified in great detail in the regulations and the serious student is encouraged
to seek the definitive document. Certain individuals are legally required to carry or possess a
copy of the rules, such as the owners and/or operators of certain vessels.

A commonly held misconception concerning the rules of marine navigation is that by

following specific rules, a vessel can gain certain rights of way (right of way) over other
vessels, however this is not in keeping with the rules. No vessel ever gains absolute 'right of
way' over other vessels. Rather, there can be a 'give way' (burdened) vessel or two such give
way vessels with no 'stand on' (privilged) vessel, or there can be a give way and a stand on
vessel. The stand on vessel does not have and never has the absolute right of way over any
give way vessel. For if there is a risk of collision, a stand on vessel with the so-called right of
way can still be obligated under Rule 2 to depart from the prescribed rules in order to give
way so as to avoid a collision, if such action will be effective and practicable. In the case of
two power-driven vessels meeting head to head in an oncoming or head on pattern of
approach, then BOTH vessels are deemed to be give way and both are required to alter course
so as to avoid colliding with the other. NEITHER vessel has 'right of way'.

The rules can be summarized as follows; however this summary must not ever be used for
legal interpretation purposes. Only the actual, proper regulations ARE the regulations in law.
General Definitions
For the purpose of these Rules, except where the context otherwise requires:

(a) “vessel” includes every description of water craft, including non-displacement

craft, WIG craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of
transportation on water.
(b) “power-driven vessel” means any vessel propelled by machinery.
(c) “sailing vessel” means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if
fitted, is not being used.
(d) “vessel engaged in fishing” means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or
other fishing apparatus which restrict manoeuvrability, but does not include a vessel
fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict
manoeuvrability.
(e) “seaplane” includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water.
(f) “vessel not under command” means a vessel which through some exceptional
circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore
unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
(g) “vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre” means a vessel which from the
nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules
and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The term “vessels
restricted in their ability to manoeuvre” shall include but not be limited to:
 (i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark,
submarine cable or pipeline;
 (ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;
 (iii) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or
cargo while underway;
 (iv) a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;
 (v) a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;
 (vi) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the
towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

(h) “vessel constrained by her draught” means 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.
(i) “underway” means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or
aground.
(j) “length” and “breadth” of a vessel mean her length overall and greatest breadth.
(k) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be
observed visually from the other.
(l) “restricted visibility” means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog,
mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.
(m) “Wing-In-Ground (WIG) craft” means a multimodal craft which, in its main
operational mode, flies in close proximity to the surface by utilizing surface-effect
action.
 (n) a rowing vessel shall be considered as a power driven vessel

Lights and shapes

Application
Rules concerning lights apply from sunset to sunrise, in conditions of restricted
visibility, and in all other circumstances when it is deemed necessary. Rules
concerning shapes apply during the day.

Definitions
a. "Masthead light" means a white light on the centreline of the vessel showing from
right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel.
b. "Sidelights" means a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side
each showing from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side.
If the vessel is less than 20 metres (66 ft) long, the sidelights may be combined in one
fixture carried on the centreline of the vessel.
c. "Sternlight" means a white light placed as nearly as practicable at the stern showing
67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.
d. "Towing light" means a yellow light having the same characteristics as a "sternlight"
defined above.
e. "All-round light" means a light visible from 360 degrees of the horizon.
f. "Flashing light" means a light flashing faster than 120 flashes per minute.

Visibility of lights
Lights must be bright enough to be visible as follows.

Vessels 50 metres Vessels between 12–50 Vessels less than 12

Light type (164 ft) or more in metres (39–164 ft) in metres (39 ft) in
length length length
5 miles; except for vessels
Masthead light 6 nautical miles less than 20 metres (66 ft), 2 miles
3 miles
Sidelight 3 miles 2 miles 1 mile
Towing light 3 miles 2 miles 2 miles
White, red, green or
yellow all-around 3 miles 2 miles 2 miles
light

Lights for fishing vessels

o Fishing Vessels
o (a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit
only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.
 o (b) A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging
through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall
exhibit:

1. two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower
white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line
one above the other;

2. a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel
of less than 50 metres (164 ft) in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but
may do so;

3. when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in
this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

o (c) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:

1. two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower
white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together in a vertical line one
above the other;

2. when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 metres horizontally
from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upwards in the direction of the
gear;

3. when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in
this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

o (d) The additional signals described in Annex II to these Regulations apply to

a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing.
o (e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes
prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.

Annexes
ANNEX I - Positioning and technical details of lights and shapes
ANNEX II - Additional signals for fishing vessels fishing in close proximity
ANNEX III - Technical details of sound signal appliances
ANNEX IV - Distress signals

1. The following signals, used or exhibited either together or separately, indicate distress and
need of assistance:

(a) a gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute;

(b) a continuous sounding with any fog-signalling apparatus;
(c) rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals;
(d) a signal made by radiotelegraphy or by any other signalling method consisting of
the group   . . .   — — —   . . .   (SOS) in the Morse Code;
 (e) a signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the spoken word “Mayday”;
(f) the International Code Signal of distress indicated by NC;
(g) a signal consisting of a square flag having above or below it a ball or anything
resembling a ball;
(h) flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc);
(i) a rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light;
(j) a smoke signal giving off orange-coloured smoke;
(k) slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side;
(l) a distress alert by means of digital selective calling (DSC) transmitted on
(i) VHF channel 70, or
(ii) MF/HF on the frequencies 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz,
12577 kHz or 16804.5 kHz;
(m) a ship-to-shore distress alert transmitted by the ship’s Inmarsat or other mobile
satellite service provider ship earth station; (see GMDSS)
(n) approved signals transmitted by radiocommunication systems, including survival
craft radar transponders. (see GMDSS)

2. The use or exhibition of any of the foregoing signals except for the purpose of indicating
distress and need of assistance and the use of other signals which may be confused with any
of the above signals is prohibited.