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COLREGS

COLREGS Summary
1 Established by Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). Proposed 1972, Effective 1977. Governed by International Maritime Organization (IMO). Part A General Application and demarcation lines: International applies to high seas; Inland applies to non-international. Separated by demarcation lines. New York Harbor: East Rockaway Inlet Breakwater Light to Sandy Hook Light. Delaware Bay: Cape May Light to northern most extremity of Cape Henlopen. Chesapeake Bay: Cape Charles Light to Cape Henry Light. Responsibility: All vessel are responsible. Definitions: Vessel: any type of watercraft including seaplanes. Power-driven vessel: any vessel propelled by machinery (sailboat under power). Sailboat: vessel under sail with power off. Vessel engaged in fishing: fishing by any means which restricts maneuverability. Vessel not under command: by exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver, unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver: restricted by the nature of her work, e.g. laying cable, dredging, transferring persons, launching aircraft, mineclearance. Vessel restricted by her draft (International Only): unable to deviate from course due draft and water depth. Underway: not anchored or aground. Restricted visibility: any condition which restricts visibility: fog, snow, mist, rain. Part B Steering and Sailing Rules Application: This section applies to any condition of visibility. Lookout: Every vessel shall maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in prevailing circumstances. Safe Speed: Every vessel shall proceed at a safe to avoid collision and stop within a proper distance. Factors affecting safe speed: visibility, traffic density, maneuverability, darkness, sea state, draft, depth of water. Risk of Collision exists if: Doubt exists, scanty radar, no compass bearing change, or large vessel at close range. Action to Avoid Collision: Course or speed alteration should be large and apparent. Avoid small alterations. Take action early. Narrow Channels: Keep to outer limit on starboard side. Sailboats and fishing boats should not impede. Do not cross channels in a way that impedes traffic. When overtaking give sound signals and wait for response. Avoid anchoring in channel. Inland Only: Vessel with following current has right of way. Vessel against current yields. Crossing vessel yields to first two cases Traffic Separation Schemes: Attempt to join traffic lanes at end points, but if joining from the side, join at small angles. Avoid crossing, but if crossing, cross at right angles.

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Sailing Vessels in sight of one another: Give way rules. Wind on different sides: port tack gives way. Starboard tack stands on. Wind on same sides: windward gives way to leeward. If on port tack and in doubt, give way. Windward side is side opposite side which main sail is carried. Overtaking: Overtaking vessel must give way. Overtaking is approaching another vessel more than 22.5 abaft of beam. If in doubt you are overtaking assume you are. If bearing changes during overtaking, existing conditions are assumed. Head-on Situation (power vessels): alter course to starboard and pass port-toport. Crossing Situation (power vessels): give way to starboard vessel. Cross behind. Action by Give-way Vessel: take early and substantial action to keep clear Action by Stand-on Vessel: Keep course and speed. Take evasive action if giveway vessel is not acting. Responsibilities Between Vessels: Precedence relationships: Power vessel underway gives way to Sailing vessel underway gives way to Fishing vessel fishing gives way to Vessel restricted by draft Vessel restricted in ability to maneuver Vessel not under command Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility: Applies to vessels not in sight of one another. Operate at safe speed. Due regard to prevailing conditions. When detect close conditions with radar alone: avoid altering course to port and altering course toward a vessel abeam or abaft of beam. When fog signal is heard forward of beam, reduce speed to minimum, and if necessary take all way off until danger is past. Part C Lights and Shapes Application of Lights and Shapes: Lights apply between sunset and sunrise and periods of restricted visibility. Shapes apply during daylight. Definitions: Masthead light: white light either fore or aft of centerline visible 225 arc from front, which is 22.5 abaft of beam on both sides. Sidelights: green on starboard; red on port. (Remember port wine is red). 112.5 arc. Extends 22.5 abaft of beam on each side. Sternlight: white light on stern visible 135 or 67.5 to right and left. Towing light: yellow light with same characteristics as sternlight. All-around light: any color light with 360 visibility. Flashing light: any color flashing with frequency >= 120 flashes per second. Special Flashing Light (Inland Only): Yellow light 50-70 flashes/sec. as far forward as possible. Visibility of Lights: Specifies details about miles of visibility. (a) Power-driven Vessels Underway: Ships and large boats. The key point is that large ships (>50 meters) have two masthead lights (fore and aft) which serve as a range for determining the angle of approach. Two in a row expect a blow. 1. Masthead light forward

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2. If > 50 meters a second higher masthead light aft (2 masthead lights) 3. Sidelights 4. Sternlight (c) Power-driven Vessels Underway: Small boats 1. < 12 meters: all around white light and side lights 2. < 7 meters: all around white light, a torch will do. International Only Towing and Pushing: 20 pages with many parts. Vessels towing or pushing have two or three masthead lights on the same mast; they must be in a vertical line. The object being towed should display sidelights and sternlight. Three in line lookout behin(d). If tow is < 200 meters then two masthead lights. If tow > 200 meters then three masthead lights. Diamond shape cone. If pushing as one unit then display lights as one unit. If pushing or towing alongside display side and sternlights of vessel being pushed or towed as appropriate. Do not show masthead lights of vessel being pushed or towed alongside. If pushing in international waters display sternlight, if in inland waters display two towing lights. Sailing Vessels Underway or Vessels Under Oars: Without power: Display sidelights and sternlight. No masthead light. With Power: Display masthead light (called steaming light). Same as power boat. If <60 meters, then a tricolor light can be displayed at the top of the mast. This has the advantage that it can be seen more easily at night. May also display red over green at top of mast. If motor sailing during the day, display a cone pointing down. If < 7 meters under oars, display torch (flashlight). Fishing Vessels: Green over white, fishing at night. Day shape: Two kissing cones. Cone pointing up for outlying gear. 1. Trawling, making way: G over W all around MH lights plus side and stern. 2. Not Trawling, making way: R over R all around MH lights plus side and stern. 3. Trawling, not making way: G over W all around MH lights, no side or stern 4. Not trawling, not making way: R over W all around MH lights, no side or stern Vessels Not Under Command: Red over red the captain is dead. R over R all around masthead lights. Ball over ball. If making way must also have stern and sidelights but not white masthead lights. Day shape is two balls. Restricted in Ability to Maneuver: Red over white over read all around masthead lights in a vertical line and when making way the normal underway lights. The day shape is ball, diamond, ball. Vessel Diving: Red, white, red all around lights. Code flag A. Mineclearance: three green in horizontal. Three balls in cross. Vessels Constrained by Draft (International Only): MAY, in addition to normal lights, exhibit three red all around light in a vertical line. That means a ship may be constrained by draft but not exhibiting the lights. Day shape is cylinder. Pilot Vessels: White over red all around masthead lights. If underway, additional white masthead light is not needed. White over red pilot ahead. Vessel Anchored: All around white masthead light or ball during day.

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Vessel Aground: Two all around red lights in a vertical line, three vertical balls. Seaplanes shall attempt to follow these rules as much as possible. Part D Sound and Light Signals Definitions: Whistle: A sound signaling appliance in the range of 70-700Hz. If boat is less than 75 meters, range can be 250-700 Hz. Short Blast: about one second. Prolonged Blast: four to six seconds. Equipment for Sound Signals: >12 meters: whistle and bell >100 meters: whistle, bell, and gong. Maneuvering and Warning Signals: International Passing: Same signals can be given with flashing white light. One short blast: I intend to alter course to starboard. Two short blasts: I intend to alter course to port. Three short blasts: I am oerating astern propulsion. Response: NONE Inland Passing: Same signals can be given with flashing white light. One short blast: I intend to leave you on my port side. Two short blasts: I intend to leave you on my starboard side. Three short blasts: I am oerating astern propulsion. Response: Sound the same signal in agreement. International Overtaking in Channel: Two long one short: I intend to overtake you on your starboard side. Two long two short: I intend to overtake you on your port side. Response: long, short, long, short Inland Overtaking in Channel: One short blast: I intend to overtake you on your starboard side. Two short blasts: I intend to overtake you on your port side. Response: Sound the same signal in agreement. Miscellaneous Sounds: Five short blasts: I do not understand. One long: I am coming around a bend. Respond in kind. Inland Only: One long when leaving dock or berth. Inland Only: May agree to maneuver on VHF radio and not use signals. Sounds in Restricted Visibility: Fog signals Unrestricted Power Vessel making way: One long at least every two minutes Other vessels making way: One long and two short every two minutes Anchored vessels: Bell for five seconds every minute. Grounded vessels: Three strokes on bell, five sec bell, three strokes on bell. Vessel not making way: two long every two minutes Last vessel in multi-vessel tow: one long three short Not making way: two long every two minutes.

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36 Signals to Attract Attention: 1. Any sound or light that cannot be confused with navigation lights. 2. A search light in the direction of the danger. 3. Avoid high intensity revolving lights or strobe lights. Distress Signals: 1. Red star shells created by flares or rockets 2. Continuous sounding with any fog signaling device 3. Flames on a vessel as in a burning tar barrel 4. Gun or other explosive devise fired at intervals of one minute 5. Black square over ball on orange background. 6. SOS 3 short 3 long 3 short 7. Spoken words MAY DAY by radio 8. Parachute red flare 9. Dye marker in water 10. Code flags november charlie (N.C.) 11. Square flag with ball either above or below it 12. Waving arms 13. Radio telegraph alarm 14. Radio telephone alarm 15. Position indicating radio beacon 16. Orange smoke signal Part E Exemptions Exemptions: None that apply to us

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