Here is the full details of COLREGs -
International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 as
amended. This is the international law
for all vessels on high seas and
navigable waters.
COLREGs is divided into 6 Parts + 4
Annexes with 41 Rules.
PART A - GENERAL - Rules 1-3
Rule 1 - Application: Applies to ALL
vessels on high seas and connected
navigable waters. No vessel is
exempt.
Rule 2 - Responsibility:
a) Nothing in these rules excuses you
from neglect, bad seamanship, or
special circumstances.
b) You can DEPART from the rules to
avoid immediate danger.
Rule 3 - Definitions:
Vessel: Everything that floats -
including seaplane.
Power-driven vessel: Propelled by
machinery.
Sailing vessel: Under sail only.
Vessel Engaged in Fishing: Fishing with
nets, lines, trawls that restrict
maneuverability - NOT trolling lines.
Vessel Not Under Command (NUC):
Exceptional circumstance, cannot
maneuver - e.g. engine failure, rudder
failure.
Vessel Restricted in Ability to
Maneuver (RAM): Nature of work
restricts her - e.g., laying cable,
dredging, launching aircraft, towing.
Vessel Constrained by Draught (CBD):
Power vessel that cannot deviate from
course due to deep draft.
Underway: Not at anchor, not made
fast to shore, not aground.
Making way: Underway and moving
through water.
PART B - STEERING AND SAILING
RULES - Rules 4-19
This is the most important part.
Divided into 3 Sections.
SECTION I - Rules 4-10 - Any Condition
of Visibility
Rule 4 - Application of Section I
Rule 5 - Look-out: Every vessel shall
maintain proper lookout by sight,
hearing and all available means at all
times.
Rule 6 - Safe Speed: Every vessel
must go at safe speed to take
avoiding action. Factors: visibility,
traffic density, draft, radar,
background lights, wind/sea/current.
Rule 7 - Risk of Collision: Use all
available means to determine risk. If
compass bearing of approaching
vessel does NOT appreciably change -
risk EXISTS. If you have doubt, risk
exists.
Rule 8 - Action to Avoid Collision:
Must be positive, made in ample time,
with due regard to good seamanship.
Alteration of COURSE is better than
speed. A large alteration is more
visible.
If you have room, don't make small
alterations.
Check until other vessel is past and
clear.
Rule 9 - Narrow Channels:
Keep to starboard side of channel.
Vessels <20m or sailing vessels shall
not impede passage of vessel that can
only navigate in channel.
Fishing vessel shall not impede other
vessel in channel.
No crossing if it impedes vessel in
channel.
If you hear long blast of vessel coming
around bend, reply with long blast.
Rule 10 - Traffic Separation Schemes
(TSS):
Join/leave at small angle to general
flow.
Cross at 90 degrees as far as
practicable.
Do not cross separation zone.
Vessels <20m, sailing vessels, fishing
vessels shall not impede power-driven
vessel following lane.
This rule does NOT relieve any vessel
from other rules.
SECTION II - Rules 11-18 - Vessels in
Sight of One Another
Rule 11 - Application
Rule 12 - Sailing Vessels:
Different tacks: Port tack gives way to
starboard tack.
Same tack: Windward gives way to
leeward.
Port tack vessel if unsure of other
vessel's tack, shall keep clear.
Rule 13 - Overtaking: OVERTAKING
VESSEL KEEPS CLEAR. You are
overtaking if approaching from more
than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam
(you see only sternlight). Duty
remains until finally past and clear.
Doubt? Assume you are overtaking.
Rule 14 - Head-on Situation: When two
POWER vessels meet head-on or
nearly head-on, BOTH alter to
STARBOARD. Each hears 1 short blast.
Rule 15 - Crossing Situation: When two
power vessels cross, vessel which has
other on STARBOARD side shall keep
out of way and avoid crossing ahead.
Rule 16 - Action by Give-way Vessel:
Take early and substantial action.
Rule 17 - Action by Stand-on Vessel:
Must keep course and speed.
May take action if give-way vessel not
acting.
If collision cannot be avoided by give-
way alone, MUST take best action.
In crossing situation, should NOT alter
to port for vessel on port side.
Rule 18 - Responsibilities Between
Vessels - The Hierarchy:
Order of priority (top has to keep clear
of bottom):
Power-driven vessel
Sailing vessel
Vessel engaged in fishing
Vessel Restricted in Ability to
Maneuver (RAM)
Vessel Not Under Command (NUC)
Exception: Seaplane, WIG craft, vessel
constrained by draught, vessel
engaged in fishing etc have their own
rules. RAM and NUC are always at top.
SECTION III - Rule 19 - Restricted
Visibility (Fog)
Applies when NOT in sight of each
other.
Every vessel shall go at safe speed
adapted to visibility.
Power vessel shall have engines ready
for immediate maneuver.
If you detect other vessel by RADAR
ALONE:
No alteration to PORT for vessel
forward of beam.
No alteration TOWARDS vessel abeam
or abaft the beam.
If you hear fog signal forward of beam
or cannot avoid close quarters - SLOW
DOWN, stop if needed. Navigate with
extreme caution.
PART C - LIGHTS AND SHAPES - Rules
20-31
Rule 20 - Application: Lights from
sunset to sunrise, and in restricted
visibility. Shapes by day.
Rule 21 - Definitions:
Masthead light: White 225 degrees,
forward.
Sidelights: Green starboard 112.5 deg,
Red port 112.5 deg.
Sternlight: White 135 degrees, aft.
Towing light: Yellow 135 degrees.
All-round light: 360 degrees.
Flashing light: 120 flashes per minute.
Rule 22 - Visibility Range:
Vessels >50m: Masthead 6 miles,
sidelights 3 miles, stern 3 miles.
Vessels 12-50m: Masthead 5 miles,
sidelights 2 miles, stern 2 miles.
Vessels <12m: Masthead 2 miles,
sidelights 1 mile, stern 2 miles.
Rule 23 - Power-driven vessel
underway:
<50m: 1 masthead, sidelights,
sternlight.
>50m: 2 mastheads (forward and aft),
sidelights, sternlight.
Rule 24 - Towing:
Towing vessel: 2 mastheads in vertical
line (3 if tow >200m), sidelights,
sternlight, towing light yellow above
sternlight.
Vessel being towed: sidelights and
sternlight.
Day shape: Diamond where best seen
if tow >200m.
Rule 25 - Sailing vessel: Sidelights and
sternlight. May also show red over
green at masthead.
Rule 26 - Fishing vessel:
Not trawling: Red over white all-round,
sidelights + sternlight, shape: basket.
Trawling: Green over white all-round,
sidelights + sternlight, shape: two
cones apex together.
Rule 27 - NUC and RAM:
NUC: 2 red all-round vertical, plus
sidelights/sternlight when making way.
Day: 2 black balls.
RAM: Red-white-red all-round vertical,
sidelights/sternlight/mastheads when
making way. Day: Ball-Diamond-Ball.
Minesweeping: 3 green all-round - 1 at
masthead, 2 at yardarms.
Rule 28 - Constrained by Draught
(CBD): 3 red all-round vertical,
mastheads, sidelights, sternlight. Day:
Cylinder.
Rule 29 - Pilot vessel: White over red
at masthead, sidelights, sternlight.
Day: H flag.
Rule 30 - Anchored and Aground:
Anchored: All-round white forward,
and lower white aft (<50m only 1).
Day: 1 black ball forward.
Aground: Two red + anchor lights.
Day: 3 balls - ball-ball at bow, ball at
stern.
Rule 31 - Seaplane: As per rules as far
as possible.
PART D - SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS -
Rules 32-37
Rule 32 - Definitions: Whistle, short
blast 1 sec, long blast 4-6 sec.
Rule 33 - Equipment: <12m need
whistle only, 12-20m whistle + bell,
>20m whistle + bell + gong.
Rule 34 - Maneuvering Signals in
sight:
1 short: I am altering to STARBOARD
2 short: I am altering to PORT
3 short: I am operating astern
propulsion
5 or more short: Doubt signal - I don't
understand your action.
Bend signal: 1 long = I am coming
around bend.
Rule 35 - Sound Signals in Restricted
Visibility:
Power making way: 1 long every 2
min.
Power underway but stopped: 2 long
every 2 min.
NUC, RAM, CBD, Sailing, Fishing,
Towing: 1 long + 2 short every 2 min.
Towed vessel: 1 long + 3 short after
towing vessel.
At anchor: Bell 5 sec forward every 1
min (<100m). >100m bell forward +
gong aft.
Aground: Bell + 3 bell strokes before
and after.
Rule 36 - Signals to Attract Attention:
You can use light or searchlight but
not to embarrass.
Rule 37 - Distress Signals: SOS,
MAYDAY, flares, etc. - Annex IV.
PART E - EXEMPTIONS - Rule 38
Vessels built before 1972 may be
exempted for some light/shape
requirements.
PART F - VERIFICATION - Rules 39-41
Rules about compliance audits.
ANNEXES
Annex I - Positioning of Lights and
Shapes
Annex II - Additional Signals for Fishing
Vessels - lights for shooters etc.
Annex III - Sound Appliances - whistle
frequencies and ranges.
Annex IV - Distress Signals - 15
signals: e.g., Red rocket, SOS, MAYDAY
by radio, flames, orange smoke, etc.
---
MOST ASKED MEMORY TRICK FOR
EXAMS:
If you are Give-way: Act EARLY, BIG, to
STARBOARD.
If you are Stand-on: Keep course and
speed, but be ready to act.
Peanut rule: Power gives way to Sail,
Sail gives way to Fishing, Fishing gives
way to RAM, RAM gives way to NUC.
NUC is King.
Do you want me to make this into a
complete PDF with all light/shapes
diagrams and sound signal tables for
exam?