COLREG

Convention on the International Regulationsfor Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG),1972Prof. Manuel VenturaMSc in Marine Engineering and Naval ArchitectureCOLREGApplication• All ships in the sea and in all the waterway with connection to the seathat are practicable by marine navigation• Entry into force on the 15th July 1977, replacing the Rules from1960.M.Ventura COLREG 21

COLREGPart A – General• Regulation 1 - Application• Regulation 2 - Responsibility• Regulation 3 – General DefinitionsPart B – Steering and Sailing Rules• Section I – Conduct of Vessels in Any Conditions of Visibility– Regulation 4 - Application– Regulation 5 - Look-out– Regulation 6 – Safe Speed– Regulation 7 – Risk of Collision– Regulation 8 - Action to avoid collision– Regulation 9 - Narrow channels– Regulation 10 – Traffic Separation SchemesM.Ventura COLREG 3COLREG• Section II – Conduct of Vessels in Sight of Each Other– Regulation 11 - Application– Regulation 12 – Sailing Vessels– Regulation 13 – Overtaking (Navio que Alcança)– Regulation 14 - Head-on Situation (Navios que se Aproximam de Roda aRoda)– Regulation 15 - Crossing Situation– Regulation 16 - Action by Give-way Vessel (Manobra do Navio semPrioridade)– Regulation 17 - Action by Stand-on Vessel (Manobra do Navio comPrioridade)– Regulation 18 - Responsibilities Between Vessels• Section III - Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility– Regulation 19 – Conduct of Vessels in Restricted VisibilityM.Ventura COLREG 42

COLREG• Annex I - Positioning and Technical Details of Lights andShapes• Annex II - Additional Signals for Fishing Vessels fishing inClose Proximity• Annex III - Technical Details of Sounds Signal Appliances• Annex IV - Distress SignalsM.Ventura COLREG 7Some DefinitionsVessel - includes every description of water craft, including nondisplacementcraft, WIG craft and seaplanes, used or capableof being used as a means of transportation on water.Power-driven Vessel - means any vessel propelled by machinery.Sailing Vessel - means any vessel under sail provided thatpropelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.Vessel engaged in Fishing - means any vessel fishing with nets,lines, trawls or other fishing apparatus which restrictmaneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing withtrolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrictmaneuverability.M.Ventura COLREG 84

Part C –Lights and ShapesApplication• The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with fromsunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shallbe exhibited• The Rules concerning shapes shall be complied with by dayM.Ventura COLREG 9Lights and Shapes - DefinitionsMasthead Light - means a white light placed over the fore andaft centreline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over anarc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show thelight from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam oneither side of the vessel.M.Ventura COLREG 105

Lights and Shapes - DefinitionsSidelights - means a green light onthe starboard side and a redlight on the port side eachshowing an unbroken light over anarc of the horizon of 112.5degrees and so fixed as to showthe light from right ahead to22.5 degrees abaft the beam onits respective side.• In a vessel with length < 20meters the sidelights may becombined in one lantern carried onthe fore and aft centerline of thevessel.M.Ventura COLREG 11Lights and Shapes - DefinitionsSternlight - means a white light placed asnearly as practicable at the sternshowing an unbroken light over an arc ofthe horizon of 135 degrees and so fixedas to show the light 67.5 degrees fromright aft on each side of the vessel.Towing light -means a yellow lighthavingthe same characteristics as the“sternlight”M.Ventura COLREG 126

Part C - Lights and ShapesShips Power-driven Underway• Shall exhibit:– 1 masthead light, forward– 1 masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one (shipswith L > 50 m)– Side lights– 1 stern lightM.Ventura COLREG 13Vertical Location of the LightsShips Power-Driven with L > 20 m• The forward masthead light, at a height above the hull ≥ 6 m, and ifthe B > 6 m, then at a height above the hull not less than suchbreadth, however need not be placed at height > 12 m.• When 2 masthead lights are carried the after one shall be at least4.5 m vertically higher than the forward one• The sidelights shall be placed at a height above the hull not greaterthan ¾ of that of the forward masthead light.M.Ventura COLREG 147

Horizontal Location of the LightsShips Power-Driven with L > 20 m• If there are 2 masthead lights, the distance between them C ≥ L/2,(Max. 100 m)• The sidelights shall not be placed in front of the forward mastheadlights and they shall be placed at or near the side of the vesselM.Ventura COLREG 15Location of the LightsXmin ≥ C.Hf / (A + 1000)F = D + 4.5E ≤ 0.75DD ≥ MAX(6 m, B) (Max. 12 m)A ≤ 0.25LC ≥ 0.5L (Max. 100 m)M.Ventura COLREG 168

Shapes CharacteristicsShapes• Shall be black and have thefollowing dimensions:SphericalShapeConicalShapeCylindricalShapeBiconicalShapeM.Ventura COLREG 17Part D – Sound and Light AppliancesEquipment for Sound Signals• Ships with L ≥ 12 meters shall have:– A whistle (apito), with range ≥ 1 nautical mile– A bell (sino), with a diameter ≥ 300 mm• Ships with L ≥ 100 meters shall also have:– A gongM.Ventura COLREG 189

IACS – Interpretation of COLREG• The navigation lights(masthead lights fwd andaft, sidelights and sternlight) shell be duplicated orprovided with 2 lamps• Concerning the location ofthe side lights, “close to theside shell” is interpreted asbeing at adist. ≤ Max( 0.10B, 2 m)inside the side shellM.Ventura COLREG 19Navigation Lights10