COLREGS

The "rules of the road" for sailors

Its no different on water than on land. There are rules of the road and not knowing them or following them can have real consequences. Many boaters ignore or never learn the ColRegs under the mistaken notion that it really doesn't matter. However, compliance with the ColRegs can have significant consequences in assigning liability for damages incurred in collisions

The ColRegs consist of 38 Rules grouped as follows:

• General rules (Rules 1-3)
• Steering and Sailing (Rules 4-19)
• Lights and Shapes (Rules 20-31)
• Sound and Light Signals (Rules 32-37)
• Exceptions (Rule 38) plus Annexes
  

Click here for a copy of the ColRegs.

The United States Coast Guard has a comprehensive site called the Navigation Center where you can not only review the ColRegs but also practise them with a series of flash cards.

There is no 'right-of-way' in the ColRegs. Vessels are either 'stand-on' or 'give-way' and each Master has a responsibility to do whatever they can to avoid a collision (Rule 2). Here is a summary of each rule. Please make sure that you read the actual rules as only they are the authoritative text. Following the summary are several illustrations of the Rules.

Summary of ColRegs Rules

This is an illustration of the 'Rules of the Road' - Stand-On and Give-Way situations all boaters will face.

This is an illustration of Aids TO Navigation (ATONs). These are the 'traffic signs' of the waterways. This illustration includes standard daymarks that you will encounter.

Cardinal Buoys take their name from the 4 cardinal directions – north, south, east and west and are used to direct vessels safely around a particular hazard or danger. Your direction of approach doesn't matter – which makes them different from lateral buoys.

Distinctive light patterns are used at night to help sailors identify Aids to Navigation. These light patterns have 4 characteristics:

1) Color (red, green, white , or yellow)

2) Light display (sequence of flashes)

3) Period (time it takes to go through one sequence of flashes)

4. Equipped with reflective material on the Aid

Rule 37 identifies Standard Marine Distress Signals. Knowing these could save your life.

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