Learning Module 1.

LESSON 1 - Part A – GENERAL (Rule 1- 3) (7 hours)

Competence, Course Outcomes and Learning Outcomes

Competence: Maintain a safe navigational watch

Course Outcome/s: Demonstrate thorough knowledge and understanding of the content, application and
intent of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended.

Learning Outcomes:

1 Interpret the provisions of Rule 1: Application

2 Construe the provisions of Rule 2: Responsibility
3 Distinguish the terms as provided in Rule 3: General Definitions

Overview

The International Rules were formalized in the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea, 1972, and became effective on July 15, 1977. The Rules (commonly called 72 COLREGS)
are part of the Convention, and vessels flying the flags of states ratifying the treaty are bound to the Rules.

The 1972 COLREGS were developed by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO)
which in May 1982 was renamed the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In November 1981, IMOs
Assembly adopted 55 amendments to the 1972 COLREGS, which became effective on June 1, 1983. The
IMO also adopted 9 more amendments, which became effective on November 19, 1989.

IMO regularly enacts regulations (such as the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea)
which are broadly enforced by national and local maritime authorities in member countries. The IMO has
also enacted a Port State Control authority, allowing domestic maritime authorities such as coast guards to
inspect foreign-flag ships calling at ports of the many port states. Memoranda of Understanding (protocols)
were signed by some countries unifying Port State Control procedures among the signatories
 Discussion

Rule 1

Application

(a) These rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable
by seagoing vessels.

(b) Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate
authority for roadstead’s, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and
navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall conform as closely as possible to these rules.

(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 whistles
shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorised
elsewhere under these rules.

(d) Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organisation for the purpose of these rules.

(e) Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special construction or
purpose cannot comply fully with the provision of any of these rules with respect to the number,
position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of
sound-signalling appliances, without interfering with the special function of the vessel, such vessel shall
comply with such other provisions in regard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or
shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as her
Government shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these rules in respect to
that vessel.

(Submarines may display, as a distinctive means of identification, an intermittent flashing amber (yellow)
beacon with a sequence of operation of one flash per second for three (3) seconds followed by a three (3)
second off-period.).

Remark;

Nothing in these rules shall interfere (oppose, resist) with the operation of special rules made
by an appropriate authority.
 Rule 2

Responsibility

(a) Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the
consequences of any neglect to comply with these rules or of the neglect of any precautions which may be
required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

(b) In construing and complying with these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and
collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make
a departure from these rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

Remark;

Nothing in these rules can release any vessel, owner, master or crew from the responsibility to
comply and follow this rule

Rule 3

General definitions

(a) The word "vessel" includes 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.

Special vessels

Air-cushion vessel, non displacement mode. Air-cushion vessel, displacement mode.

Vessel under oars. Small craft diving operations, flag..

Small craft diving operations, lights. Not under command, not making way.

Not under command, making way. Mine clearance operations, < 50 m.

Mine clearance operations. Constrained by her draft.

Pilot vessel on duty, underway. Pilot vessel on duty, at anchor,

(b) The term "power-driven vessel" means any vessel propelled by machinery.

(c) The term "sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery if fitted is not
being used.

(d) The term "vessel engaged in fishing" means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other fishing
apparatus which restricts manoeuvrability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or
other fishing apparatus which do not restrict manoeuvrability.

(e) The term "seaplane" includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water.
 The word "seaplane" is used to describe two types of air/water vehicles

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

(g) The term "vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre" means a vessel which from the nature of her
work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre 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 manoeuvre" shall include but not be limited to:

_ (i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable or pipeline;

_ (ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;

_ (iii) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway;

_ (iv) a vessel engaged in launching or recovery of aircraft;

_ (v) a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;

_ (vi) 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.

(h) The term “vessel constrained by her draught" means a power-driven vessel which because of her
draught in relation to the available depth of water is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the
course she is following

(i) The word "underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

(j) The words "length" and "breadth" of a vessel mean her length overall and greatest breadth.

(k) Vessel shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the
other.

(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.
(m)The term “Wing-In-Ground (WIG) craft” means a multimodal craft which, in its main operational mode,
flies in close proximity to the surface by utilizing surface-effect action
 References

T1 – Chhabra , Yashwant . (2016) . A mariner’s guide to preventing collisions : convention on the

international Regulations for preventing collisions at sea , 1972 , including all amendments . 2nd ed .
Quezon City : C & E Publishing , Inc .
T2 – Saeed Farhan . (2015) . A practical guide to the rules of the road ; 3 rd ed . New York:Routledge .
T3 – Japitana , Marvin P. (2015) . Navigate ahead : a guide for rules of the road ’72 . Intramuros, Manila :
Mindshapers Co., Inc.
T4 – Dept. of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard . (n.d) . Navigation rules and regulations
handbook . [s.l.:s.n.] .

R1 – Bole, Alan , Alan Wall and Andy Norris .(2014) . Radar and ARPA manual: radar , AIS and target
tracking for marine radar users . 3rd ed . Amsterdam : Butterworth-Heinemann .
R2- Abangan , Emeterio Jr . (2013) . Deckwatch keeping 1 . Mandaue City , Cebu : DMC Busa Printers .
R3 – Cockroft A.N and Lameijer NF. (2012) . A guide to the collsion avoidance rules . 7 th ed .UK :
Butterworth-Heinemann .
R4 – Dokkum, Klaas Van .(2007) . Ship sailing rules : illustrated textbook the COLREGS guide . 2nd ed . The
Netherlands : DOKMAR .