International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

thumb | right | alt=Trafic separation scheme | Trafic separation scheme

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, also known as Collision Regulations (COLREG), are published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and set out, among other things, the "rules of the road" or navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea to prevent collisions between two or more vessels. COLREG can also refer to the specific political line that divides inland waterways, which are subject to their own navigation rules, and coastal waterways which are subject to international navigation rules. They are derived from a multilateral treaty called the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, also known as Collision Regulations of 1960.

Organization of the regulatory documents

As of 2022, there are 41 Rules and four annexes in COLREGs Rules in force.

PART A - GENERAL

Rule 1 - Application. This rule states that the COLREGs should be complied with by all vessels on the "high seas". This rule sets out key definitions that apply to terms in the rest of the rules, including definitions for 'power-driven vessels', 'sailing vessels' and other terms such as 'not under command' and 'vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre. This rule states that the rules in this section apply to all vessels in any condition of visibility. This rule concerns the keeping of a proper lookout to sea. This rule sets out a requirement for all vessels to proceed at a safe speed with reference to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. This rule requires all vessels to use all available means to determine if a risk of collision exists. This rule sets out requirements for vessels to alter course and/or speed to pass a safe distance with other vessels. This rule concerns those vessels keeping a course within narrow channels and fairways. Typically abbreviated to TSS by mariners, these schemes aim to promote the safety of navigation by ensuring ships follow a general direction of travel within defined traffic lanes. The rule details how two or more sailing vessels should give way to each other when meeting. This rule governs overtaking situations between different vessels. This rule requires power-driven vessels that meet head-on i.e. bow directly facing another bow, to both alter course to starboard so as to pass clear of each other. This rule concerns actions for vessels in crossing situations and essentially requires a vessel that has another vessel on their starboard (right hand) side to stay out of the way of the other, becoming the give way vessel under rule 17.

Rule 16 – Action by Give-way Vessel. This rule requires the give-way vessel to take early and substantial action to keep well clear of the other vessel. Rule 17 requires the stand-on vessel to maintain their course and speed. Rule 18 effectively establishes an order of priority between all vessels and modes of operation of those vessels. This rule governs collision avoidance for vessels not in sight of another when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility. As far as possible, vessels should avoid altering to port for vessels forward of their beam unless being overtaken and avoid altering course towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam. The minimum visible distance requirements of navigational lights are detailed under this rule. These include signals such as the spoken word "Mayday", the Code flag Signal "N.C. (November Charlie)", flares showing red lights, "SOS" in morse code", an orange smoke signal and others. As a result, there were inconsistencies and contradictions between navigation lights that gave rise to unintended collisions, including not least that many sailing vessels did not display navigation lights. Vessel navigation lights for operating in darkness as well as navigation marks were also not standardised, giving rise to dangerous confusion and ambiguity between vessels resulting in collisions and groundings.

In 1840 in London, Trinity House drew up a set of regulations which were enacted by Parliament in 1846. The Trinity House rules were included in the Steam Navigation Act 1846, and the Admiralty regulations regarding lights for steam ships were included in this statute in 1848. Also in 1850, courts in the England and the United States adopted common law pertaining to reasonable speed within the Assured Clear Distance Ahead.

In 1863 a new set of rules drawn up by the British Board of Trade, in consultation with the French government, came into force. By 1864 the regulations (or Articles) had been adopted by more than thirty maritime countries, including Germany and the United States (passed by the United States Congress as Rules to prevent Collisions at Sea. An act fixing certain rules and regulations for preventing collisions on the water. 29 April 1864, ch. 69. and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln). International regulations would continue to be further developed over the next several decades as a result of legislative and government action by the UK, US and other maritime States. For example, in 1867, Thomas Gray, assistant secretary to the Maritime Department of the Board of Trade, wrote The Rule of the Road, a pamphlet that became famous for its well-known mnemonic verses. Furthermore, in 1878, the United States codified its common law rules for reducing the risk of collisions. By 1880, the 1863 international Articles were supplemented with whistle signals and in 1884 a new set of international regulations was implemented.

In 1889, the United States convened the first international maritime conference in Washington, D.C to further codify international collision regulations, including requirements for lights and shapes.

The 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

thumb|right|The International Maritime Organization Headquarters building, where amendments to the regulations are discussed and adopted

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea were adopted as a convention of the International Maritime Organization on 20 October 1972 and entered into force on 15 July 1977. They were designed to update and replace the Collision Regulations of 1960, particularly with regard to Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) following the first of these, introduced in the Strait of Dover in 1967.

The international regulations have been amended several times since their first adoption. In 1981 Rule 10 was amended with regard to dredging or surveying in traffic separation schemes. In 1987 amendments were made to several rules, including rule 1(e) for vessels of special construction; rule 3(h), vessels constrained by her draught and Rule 10(c), crossing traffic lanes. In 1989 Rule 10 was altered to stop unnecessary use of the inshore traffic zones associated with Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS). In 1993 amendments were made concerning the positioning of lights on vessels. In 2001 new rules were added relating to wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) craft and in 2007 the text of Annex IV (Distress signals) was rewritten. Thereafter, each IMO member country must designate an "administration"—national authority or agency—for implementing the provisions of the COLREG convention, as it applies to vessels over which the national authority has jurisdiction. Individual governing bodies must pass legislation to establish or assign such authority, as well as to create national navigation laws (and subsequent specific regulations) which conform to the international convention; each national administration is thereafter responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the regulations as it applies to ships and vessels under its legal authority. As well, administrations are typically empowered to enact modifications that apply to vessels in waters under the national jurisdiction concerned, provided that any such modifications are not inconsistent with the COLREGs.

Canada

The Canadian version of the COLREGs is provided by Transport Canada, which regulates Canadian vessels.

Korea

South Korea ratified the COLREGs in 1977 and enacted enforcing legislation under the 1986 Korea Marine Traffic Safety Act.

Marshall Islands

For Marshall Islands waters and ships, Chapter 22.11.4 requires all vessels to comply with the 1972 COLREGs, as amended. Section 150 of the Maritime Act encompasses the fitting and provision of navigation lights, shapes and sound signalling equipment. These Rules were enacted by Singapore in 1983 and then revised and reissued 25 March 1992. They are distributed and accessed in the form of a "Merchant Shipping Notice" (MSN), which is used to convey mandatory information that must be complied with under UK legislation. These MSNs relate to Statutory Instruments and contain the technical detail of such regulations. Material published by the MCA is subject to Crown copyright protection, but the MCA allows it to be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium for research or private study, provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context.

United States

The US version of the COLREGs is provided by the United States Coast Guard of the US Department of Homeland Security.

No right-of-way

A commonly held misconception concerning the rules of marine navigation is that by following specific rules, a vessel can gain certain rights of way over other vessels. No vessel ever has "right of way" over other vessels. Rather, there can be a "give way" vessel and a "stand on" vessel, or there may be two give way vessels with no stand on vessel. A stand on vessel does not have any right of way over any give way vessel, and is not free to maneuver however it wishes, but is obliged to keep a constant course and speed (so as to help the give way vessel in determining a safe course). So standing on is an obligation, not a right, and is not a privilege. Furthermore, a stand on vessel may still be obliged (under Rule 2 and Rule 17) to give way itself, in particular when a situation has arisen where a collision can no longer be avoided by actions of the give way vessel alone. For example, two power-driven vessels approaching each other head-to-head, are both 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".

Future

In recent years, the IMO, States and other interested parties have assessed the COLREGs with a view to potential future amendment to facilitate Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships. These include a regulatory scoping exercise to review the applicability of the COLREGs for autonomous ships.

Racing Rules

The Racing Rules of Sailing, which govern the conduct of yacht and dinghy racing under the sanction of national sailing authorities which are members of World Sailing, are based on the COLREGs, but differ in some important matters such as overtaking and right of way close to turning marks in competitive sailing.

References

Notes

External links

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. Wikisource. Retrieved 18 July 2010