Rules of the INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR COLREGs

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Road PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA 1972

Rules of
EVOLUTION OF RULES
EUROPEAN COMMISSION

the Road
Rules of the The admiralty black book EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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In 1338
The British Navy made a provision about avoiding responsibility
of the ship .

“ The vessel navigated by low-grade crew should give

way to the one navigated by high-grade crew”
Rules of the the First Rules with Legal Force EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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• The 1863 Collision Regulations

• In 1863, France and Great Britain made a new provision,
namely the 1863 Collision Regulations. It put the Rules to
cross over the border and had internationalism.

• Brought into force in Jun 1864

• Adopted by more than 30 countries.
 The 1889 Collision Regulations
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• In Oct 1889

• First International Maritime Conference was held in Washington to discuss collision

regulations at sea and new regulations were drafted by Great Britain.

• The regulations were brought into force only by Britain, the United States and a number
of other countries in 1897.
Rules of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The First International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

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The 1910 Collision Regulations

An International Maritime Conference was held in Brussels in 1910 and

brought minor changes and amendments to the 1889 Regulations. But ,very
importantly, the 1910 Regulations were approved and enforced by many
countries. So the 1910 Regulations are also called the first international
regulations for preventing collisions at sea.
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IMCO (the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative

Organization was founded in 1959.)

On May 22 1982,
IMCO was renamed

IMO
(The International Maritime Organization)
Rules of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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An international conference on Safety of Life at Sea, convened in

London in 1960 by IMCO, enacted the 1960 Regulations to avoid a
series of collision accidents with radar widely used in the vessels.
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The 1972 Collision Regulations EUROPEAN COMMISSION

A further revision conference hosted by IMO in London in 1972

enacted the 1972 Regulations and these came into force in November
1989. The core contents continued to use up to the present.
Rules of the Amendments to 72 COLREGs EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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The 1981 amendments

The 1987 amendments

The 1989 amendments

The 1993 amendments

The 2001 amendments

Rules of the EVOLUTION OF RULES EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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•• The
The Admiralty
Admiralty black
black book
book

•• The
The 1863
1863 Collision
Collision Regulations
Regulations

•• The
The 1889
1889 Collision
Collision Regulations
Regulations

•• The
The 1910
1910 Collision
Collision Regulations
Regulations

•• The
The 1960
1960 Collision
Collision Regulations
Regulations

•• The
The 1972
1972 Collision
Collision Regulations
Regulations

•• The
The amendments
amendments to
to 1972
1972 Collision
Collision Regulations
Regulations of 1981 、
of 1981 1983 、
、 1983 1989 、
、 1989 1993 、
、 1993 、
1998
1998
•• The
The 2001
2001 amendments
amendments to
to 1972
1972 Collision
Collision Regulations
Regulations
Rules of the
Regulations and Relevant Documents- BR 45
EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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•• International
International Regulations
Regulations for
for Preventing
Preventing Collisions
Collisions at
at Sea,
Sea, 1972
1972

• Main body (five chapters and thirty-eight rules)

• Amendments
• Four annexes

•• Guidance
Guidance for
for the
the uniform
uniform application
application of
of certain
certain rules
rules of
of the
the 1972
1972 Collision
Collision
Regulations
Regulations
Rules of the
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• Part A-General

• Part B-Steering and sailing rules

• Part C-Lights and shapes

• Part D-Sound and light signals

• Part E-Exemptions
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Annexes EUROPEAN COMMISSION

• 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

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COLREGs

Part A General Rules

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COLREGs

Rule- 1
RULE-
(a) These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas
EUROPEAN COMMISSION

1(A) and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing

vessels.

Applied Water Area:

High seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by
seagoing vessels

A: High seas are the sea areas outside territorial waters of a

country. They are not under any government, and any country has
the right to use them.
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HIGH SEAS / NAVIGABLE WATERS EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The waters connected with high seas and navigable by

seagoing vessels include:

• Exclusive economic zone

• Contiguous zone
• Territorial sea
• Internal sea and harbors, rivers and lakes
etc.
Rules of the
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TERRITORIAL CONTIGUOUS
SEA ZONE

INTERNAL
WATERS EEZ HIGH SEAS
12
BASELINE NM

24
NM
200
NM
 (b) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of
Rule-1 (B) EUROPEAN COMMISSION

special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadsteads,

harbors, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high
seas and navigable by sea-going vessels. Such special rules shall
conform as closely as possible to these Rules.

In some countries, there are some local regulations enforced in ports and their approaches
or in rivers, canals etc. These special local rules relate to various matters, such as ship’s
lights, speed, anchorage areas and docking etc. These special rules shall comply with these
Rules as much as possible.

It means some special local rules made by coastal state to cover governmentally
special areas of water.

Collision Regulations for Fishing Vessels

Port (harbor) Regulation

Inland Rules of the Road of America

Regulation for Preventing Collisions at Rivers in China
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If there is any conflict, the application of special local

rules has the priority over the ROR
Rule-1 (C) EUROPEAN COMMISSION

(c) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules
made by the Government of any State with respect to additional station or signal
lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under
convoy, or with respect to additional station or signal lights or shapes for fishing
vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These additional station or signal lights,
shapes or whistle signals shall so far as possible, be such that they cannot be
mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorized elsewhere under these Rules.
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ON DUTY LIGHT EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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FORMATION LIGHTS EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Upper
formation-keeping light

lower
formation-keeping light
 EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Only one mast head light- TYPE 21

Rules of the Identification light- Flashing Amber Light
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 Aircraft carrier
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Masthead lights are placed permanently off the centre line of
the ship with a considerable reduced horizontal separation, and
sidelights may be on either side of the island structure.
Rules of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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RULE 3

GENERAL DEFINITIONS
Rule 2 EUROPEAN COMMISSION

(a) The word “VESSEL” include 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.

Include: merchant vessels, warship, state-owned vessels for commercial and

non-commercial services, fishing boats, trawlers.
Rules of the
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Means a vessel that can hold its own weight without or almost without
depending on buoyancy, and separate from water surface in a state of non-
displacement such as a full air-cushion vessel, a hydrofoil vessel and a gliding
vessel.
 SEA PLANE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on water

A seaplane is deemed as a vessel when gliding, floating or anchoring on

water, and it is deemed as a plane when separating from water surface.
Rules of the
WIG- WING IN GROUND
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A multi modal craft which in its main operational mode flies in close
proximity to the surface by utilizing surface effect action
Rules of the
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VESSEL- HYDROFOIL EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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VESSEL EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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VESSEL- FERRY EUROPEAN COMMISSION
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VESSEL - TUG EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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WATER CRAFT – OIL TANKER
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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VESSEL – CONTAINER CARRIER
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
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VESSEL- SUBMARINE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

A submarine is not deemed as a vessel when navigating under

water.
Rules of the
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VESSEL - FISHING BOAT EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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VESSEL - WARSHIP EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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VESSEL – SAILING VESSEL EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Rules of the
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VESSEL-PASSENGER CRAFT
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
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VESSEL - TRAWLER EUROPEAN COMMISSION
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POWER DRIVEN VESSEL EUROPEAN COMMISSION

ANY VESSEL PROPELLED BY MACHINARY

Rules of the
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SAILING VESSEL EUROPEAN COMMISSION

• VESSEL UNDER SAIL

• PROPELLNG
MACHINARY IF FITTED,
NOT BEING USED
 EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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A: fitted with sail, running under sail: Sailing vessel

B: fitted with sail and machinery, running ONLY under sail:

Sailing vessel

C: fitted with sail and machinery, running under sail and

machinery:
Power-driven vessel

D: fitted with sail and machinery, running not under sail and not
propelled by machinery: Power-driven vessel
Rules of the
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VESSEL ENGAGED IN FISHING EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which
restrict maneuverability but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling
lines or other apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability.

VESSEL ENGAGED IN
TRAWLER
FISHING
Rules of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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VESSEL ENGAGED IN FISHING

FISHING VESSEL

?
Rules of the VESSEL ENGAGED IN FISHING / FISHING EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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Fishing vessel refers to the purpose of the vessel. When fishing

vessel is undertaking fishing operation, that is, the whole process
from casting the net to drawing the net. A vessel is not deemed as
“vessel engaged in fishing” when she is going to or from fishery, or
she is searching for shoal of fish.
Rules of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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I am a fishing vessel.
Get out of my way!!!

Is this true?
Rules of the
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VESSEL NOT UNDER COMMAND EUROPEAN COMMISSION

(f) The term “vessel not under command” means a vessel which
through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver as
required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of
the way of another vessel.

CAN A SAILING VESSEL BE A VESSEL NOT UNDER COMMAND ?

Rules of the
RESTRICTED IN HER ABILITY TO EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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(g) The term “vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver” means a vessel
which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to maneuver 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 maneuver” shall
include but not be limited to:
a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark,
submarine cable or pipeline;
a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;
a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or
cargo while underway;
a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;
a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;
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;
Rules of the
RAM- ENGAGED IN EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Road LAUNCHING/RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT

Rules of the RAM- ENGAGED IN MINE CLEARANCE
EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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Rules of the RAM- REPLENISHING SHIP EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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Rules of the RAM- LAYING OF S/M CABLE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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Rules of the
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RESTRICTED VISIBILITY EUROPEAN COMMISSION

(l) The term “restricted visibility” means any condition in

which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy
rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.
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CONSTRAINED BY DRAUGHT EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The term “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
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LENGTH AND BREADTH EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The words “length” and “breadth” of a vessel mean her length

overall and greatest breadth
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UNDERWAY EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The word “underway” means that a vessel is not at

anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground

(i) making way against the water

It means a vessel moves against the water propelled by machinery.

(ii) not making way against the water

It means a vessel is afloat in the sea when the engine is stopped and inertia stroke
disappeared .
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VESSELS IN SIGHT EUROPEAN COMMISSION

(k) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only

when one can be observed visually from the other.

observed visually
It means vessel hull or lights are seen by naked eyes with normal
sight, and it also means a proper look-out by such apparatus as
telescope, excluding a look-out by radar and VHF radio telephone,
or a vague outline of a vessel seen by naked eyes.

The definition doesn’t mean two vessels can see each other.
Rules of the
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VESSELS IN SIGHT EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Depending on the actual height of eye of the observers on the bridge of the big ship, or in the cockpit or on the flying
bridge of the sailing or motor yacht, horizon distances will vary between 2.5 miles (4km) from 2m(6ft) above
waterline to about 10 miles (16km) from 23m (75ft) up.
Rules of the
LOOK OUT
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• Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out

by SIGHT and HEARING as well as by ALL AVAILABLE
MEANS appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and
conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation
and of the risk of collision.
Rules of the
SAFE SPEED
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• Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can
take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within
a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

• In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be among

those taken into account:

• (a) By all vessels

• the state of visibility

• the traffic density including concentrations of fishing vessels or any

other vessels
• the maneuverability of the vessel with special reference to stopping
distance and turning ability in the prevailing conditions;
• at night the presence of background light such as from shore lights
or from back scatter of her own lights;
• the state of wind, sea and current, and the proximity of navigational
hazards;
Rules of the
SAFE SPEED
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• the draught in relation to the available depth of water.

• (b) Additionally, by vessels with operational radar;
• the characteristics, efficiency and limitations of the
radar equipment;
• any constraints imposed by the radar range scale in
use;
• the effect on radar detection of the sea state, weather
and other sources of interference;
• the possibility that small vessels, ice and other floating
objects may not be detected by radar at an adequate
range;
• the number, location and movement of vessels
detected by radar
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RISK OF COLLISION EUROPEAN COMMISSION

(a) Assumptions shall not be made on the basis of scanty

information, especially scanty radar information.

(b) In determining if risk of collision exists the following

considerations shall be among those taken into account:

① such risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of

an approaching vessel does not appreciably change;

② such risk may sometimes exist even when an appreciable

bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a very
large vessel or a tow or when approaching a vessel at close range.
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ANCHORED VESSEL EUROPEAN COMMISSION
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VESSEL - TRAWLER EUROPEAN COMMISSION
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