International Regulations for

Preventing Collisions at Sea

COLREGS

Lecture 2

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Steering and Sailing Rules

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• Part A – GENERAL
Rules 1-3
• Part B – STEERING AND SAILING RULES
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rules 4-10
Section II. Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Another
Rules 11-18
Section III. Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
Rule 19
• Part C – LIGHTS AND SHAPES
Rules 20-31
• Part D – SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS
Rules 32-37
• Part E – EXEMPTIONS
Rule 38
• ANNEXES
I Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes.
II Additional Signals for Fishing Vessels Fishing in Close Proximity.
III Technical Details of Sound Signal Appliances.
IV Distress Signals.
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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 4
Application

Rules in this section apply in any condition of visibility.

In accordance with Rule 4 (Application), rules in Part B Section I (Rule 5 , Rule 6 ,

Rule 7, Rule 8 , Rule 9 and Rule 10 ) apply in any condition of visibility.

Comments:
Rule 5 , Rule 6 , Rule 7, Rule 8 , Rule 9 and Rule 10 are applied even if the other
vessels are only detected by radar or by sound signals.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 5

Look-out

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.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 5
Look-out
Comments:
Look-out by sight means observing another vessel by naked eye or binoculars.
Look-out by hearing means detecting another vessel by her sound signals.
Look-out by other available means may include using:
- RADAR,
- AIS,
- Night vision equipment,
- Information and communication via VHF (vessels or VTS),
- Information from navigational warnings.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 6
Safe speed

Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take
proper and effective action to avoid a collision and be stopped within a
distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 6
Safe speed

In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be among those taken into
account:

(a) By all vessels:

i. the state of visibility;

ii. the traffic density including concentrations of fishing vessels or any
other vessels;
iii. the manoeuvrability of the vessel with special reference to stopping
distance and turning ability in the prevailing conditions;
iv. at night the presence of background light such as from shore lights
or from backscatter of her own lights;
v. the state of wind, sea and current, and the proximity of navigational
hazards;
vi. the draught in relation to the available depth of water. 8
 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 6
Safe speed

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 6
Safe speed

(b) Additionally, by vessels with operational radar:

i. the characteristics, efficiency and limitations of the radar equipment;

ii. any constraints imposed by the radar range scale in use;
iii. the effect on radar detection of the sea state, weather and other sources
of interference;
iv. the possibility that small vessels, ice and other floating objects may not
be detected by radar at an adequate range;
v. the number, location and movements of vessels detected by radar;
vi. the more exact assessment of the visibility that may be possible when
radar is used to determine the range of vessels or other objects in the
vicinity.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 7
Risk of collision

a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing
circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If
there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist.

b) Proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational,

including long-range scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision
and radar plotting or equivalent systematic observations of detected
objects.

c) Assumptions shall not be made on the basis of scanty information,

especially scanty radar information.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility
Rule 7
Risk of collision

d) In determining if risk of collision exists the following considerations

shall be among those taken into account:
i. such risk shall be deemed to exist it the compass bearing of an
approaching vessel does not appreciably change;
ii. 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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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In accordance with Rule 7 (a) (Risk of collision), every vessel shall use
all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and
conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt
such risk shall be deemed to exist.
Comments:
All available means which could be used to determine risk of collision
on board are:
(i) observing compass bearing of approaching vessel,
(ii) observing relative bearing of approaching vessel,
(iii) observing bearing and range of approaching vessel using radar,
(iv) observing data plotted by ARPA radar (CPA and TCPA).

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In accordance with Rule 7 (b) (Risk of collision), proper use shall be

made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including long-range
scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision and radar plotting or
equivalent systematic observation of detected objects.
Comments:
Radar can be used for determining risk of collision as follows:
- using EBL and VRM for determining bearing and range of other
vessel,
- using radar data (bearing and range) for determining risk of collision
using plotting sheet,
- using ARPA for obtaining CPA, TCPA,
- using AIS for obtaining other ships data,
- when using two radars suggestion is to set radar screen on different
ranges (e.g. one on 6 M and another on 12 M),
- long-range scanning should be used to obtain early warning of risk of
collision.
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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In accordance with Rule 7 (c) (Risk of collision), assumptions shall not be made
on the basis of scanty information, especially scanty radar information.
Comments:
Explanation of scanty information:
- Any conclusion based on simple observation of the radar without a plot is risky
and unreliable. It is also a question of reliability of radar information when
quality of radar bearing and range is poor and more reliable information must be
gathered.
- Scanty information depends on what information is presently available and how
much more information can be assessed before an action can be taken. Scanty
information is when an officer of the watch fails to determine accurately and
with a satisfying degree of certainty whether there is a risk of collision. It is
when the information is of poor quality and where more information must be
gathered to determine the risk of collision. At times it may be very difficult to
decide with certainty if there is a risk of collision. In such cases it is the best
practice to assume that there is a risk, until it is proven otherwise.
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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In Rule 7 (c) it is used word "assumption", but in determining if risk of collision

exists, it is dangerous to make assumptions. Actually, OOW have to make
"conclusions" rather than assumptions.

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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In accordance with Rule 7 (Risk of collision), risk of

collision shall be deemed to exist if the compass
bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably
change.
Comments:
If the bearing (compass or relative) taken visually or
with radar at interval of time does not appreciable
change, than the risk of collision shall be deemed to
exist.
How often to take bearing from other vessel depends
on situation (range between vessels, vessels relative
speed, area of navigation, vessels characteristics,
navigational equipment, visibility).
To be able to decide if a risk of collision exists,
bearing on the other vessel should be taken as soon as
it is sighted and then repeated in appropriate
intervals. In open water, bearing should be taken as
soon as it comes over the horizon. It is advisable not
to wait until the vessel is close before starting to take
bearings.
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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In accordance with Rule 7 (Risk of collision), risk of collision shall be deemed to

exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change.
Comments:
If the bearing (compass or relative) taken visually or with radar at interval of time
does appreciable change (decreasing), than the risk of collision shall not be deemed to
exist.
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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In accordance with Rule 7 (Risk of collision), risk of collision shall be deemed to

exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change.
Comments:
If the bearing (compass or relative) taken visually or with radar at interval of time
does appreciable change (increasing), than the risk of collision shall not be deemed to
exist.
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 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

In accordance with Rule 7 (d)(ii) (Risk of collision), risk of collision 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.
Comment:
The bearing change should be very evident, however sometimes this appreciably large change may not
hold true for observations of large vessels. If the bow was being observed and the aspect of the ship
changes from end on to a side then the bearing change would be evident but that does not mean that the
risk does not exist. Therefore, care should be exercised for large vessels which subtend an angle at the
observer, for vessels at close range and vessels in tow. 22
 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea
Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules
Rule 7 Section I. Conduct of Vessels in any Condition of Visibility

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