The document summarizes international regulations for preventing collisions at sea. It outlines general principles such as every vessel having responsibility to avoid collisions and the importance of lookouts. It details rules for conduct of vessels in any visibility, in sight of one another, and in restricted visibility. This includes rules on safe speed, risk of collision, crossing situations, and sound signals. It also covers navigation lights, shapes, and sound and light signals used to attract attention or indicate distress. The overall purpose is to establish a uniform set of rules to ensure safe navigation and prevent collisions between vessels.

1. INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
FOR
PREVENTING COLLISION AT SEA
2009

2. Collision Regulations

3. General Points
• Every vessel has a responsibility to avoid collisions.
• If every vessel follows the rules, there cannot be a
collision.
• Even if these rules require another vessel to keep out
of your way, you must be ready to take action
yourself.
• If you are in a collision, you will always be partly to
blame.

4. General Points
• All actions must be clear, in good time, and
large enough so other vessels will understand
your intentions.
• Generally alterations of course are more
obvious than alterations of speed, but never
hesitate to slow down to give yourself thinking
time or more room.

5. Night Vision
• At night keep lighting within your own vessel to a minimum; it preserves
your night vision.
• Only use spotlights where it is vital to pick up an unlit object (mooring
buoys for instance).
• Respect other people’s night vision.

6. Extra Care at Night
• Many navigation aids are unlit, and there are many
other potential hazards, so keep your speed down.

7. Requirements
1. radar, if available, is to be in use, unless alongside another vessel
2. appropriate navigation lights are displayed
3. If in doubt stop, assess, plan

8. Section I - Rules 4 to10
Conduct of Vessels in Any Type of Visibility

9. Rule 5 - Lookout
• You must keep a good lookout with eyes and ears at all times.
• This includes poor visibility and nighttime.

10. Rule 6 - Safe Speed
• You should travel at a speed that gives you adequate
time to assess and plan the manoeuvre to avoid
collision.
• Some of the factors that might cause you to slow
down are:
– visibility,
– volume of traffic,
– background lighting,
– water depth

11. Rule 7 - Risk of Collision
• Frequently assess all the vessels in the vicinity of
your vessel to see if they are likely to come close.
• If the compass bearing of another vessel does not
change much, i.e. is steady, you are on, or nearly on,
a collision course.
• A bearing (true or compass) is the ONLY way to
assess risk of collision.

12. Rule 8 - Action to Avoid Collision
• Any action you now take, must comply with these
rules, and must be obvious to the other vessel, and
result in the two vessels passing well clear of each
other.

13. Rule 9 - Narrow Channels
• In narrow channels, all vessels should keep
to the starboard side of the channel.

14. Rule 10 - Traffic Separation Schemes
• Traffic shall follow the traffic separation scheme where
one is designated.
• Where you are outside it, you should avoid it.
• If you have to cross it you have to cross it as near right
angles as possible.
• A vessel less than 20 metres in length shall not impede
a ship in a separation scheme.

15. Section II - Rules 11 to 18
Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Another

16. Collision Regulations
Section II - Conduct of vessels in sight of one
another
• Rule 11 Application
• Rule 12 Sailing Vessels
• Rule 13 Overtaking
• Rule 14 Head-on
• Rule 15 Crossing Situations
• Rule 16 Action by the Give-way Vessel
• Rule 17 Action by the Stand-on Vessel
• Rule 18 Responsibilities Between Vessels

17. Rule 13 - Overtaking
• This rule overrides all the other give-way rules.
– The overtaking vessel (even if sailing) must keep out
of the way of the vessel being overtaken.
– You can pass on either side of the vessel, but keep
well clear – the other vessel may not have seen you.
– If you are being overtaken, hold your course and
speed until the other vessel is past and well clear.

18. Rule 14 - Head on
• Both vessels must alter course to starboard.
• If the other vessel turns the wrong way, you should
turn even more to starboard, slow down, or stop
your vessel.

19. Rule 15 - Crossing Situation
• If the other vessel is on your starboard side it has right of
way and you must keep clear: you must either turn to
starboard, slow down to let the other vessel pass ahead of
you – or do both.
• A gives way to B
A
B

20. Rule 15 - Crossing Situation
• If the other vessel is on your port side, you have right of
way and should hold your course and speed. However, if
you think the other vessel is leaving it too late, you have to
take action yourself. The “right rule” still applies: if you alter
course, alter to starboard. Or you can slow down, or do
both.
A
B

21. Rules 13-15: Vessels in Sight and
in Risk of Collision (Review)
HEAD ON OVERTAKING CROSSING
Description Meeting on
reciprocal
courses,
masthead lights in
line, both
sidelights visible.
Overtaking
another vessel
more than 22.5
abaft the beam, at
night only the
sternlight visible.
Two vessels
crossing, risk of
collision exists.
Action Both vessels turn
to starboard to
pass port-to-port.
Overtaking vessel
keeps out of the
way on the
overtaken vessel.
The vessel which
holds the other
on her starboard
must keep out of
the way of the
stand-on vessel.

22. Rule 16: Give-way Vessel
• Take early and substantial action to stay out of the way of the stand-on
vessel.

23. Rule 17: Stand-on Vessel
• Maintain course and speed.
• Sound 5 short rapid blasts.
• Take action if the give-way is not taking substantial action to avoid
collision.
• If risk of collision exists and if circumstances allow, avoid altering course
to port.
• If collision is imminent, any action that will avoid collision or mitigate it,
is permitted.

24. Rule 18: Responsibilities
Between Vessels
Vessels in order of priority
• Vessel not under command
• Restricted in ability to maneuver
• Vessel constrained by draft
• Vessel engaged in fishing
• Sailing vessels
• Power driven vessels
• Seaplanes

25. Rule 18 - Power meets sail
• In general, power vessels have to keep out of the way of
sailing and fishing vessels, and vessels that are hampered
by such tasks as dredging, cable laying and so on.

26. Operating rule
Port: If a
power-driven
vessel
approaches
within this sector
maintain your
course and
speed with
caution.
Starboard:
If any vessel
approaches
within this
sector, keep
out of its way.
(Note: This
rule may not
always apply if
one or both
vessels are
sailboats.)
Stern: If any vessel
approaches this sector,
maintain your course and
speed with caution.

27. The RIGHT rule
The RIGHT rule is:
– look to the right;
– give way to the right;
– turn to the right; and
– stay to the right.

28. Section III - Rule 19
Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility

29. Rule 19: Restricted Visibility
• This rule applies when navigating in or NEAR an area
of restricted visibility.

30. Rule 19 - Restricted Visibility
• Restricted visibility any condition that reduces visibility, and includes fog,
heavy rain, snow, hail, sandstorms, etc.
• Fog is common on the coast of British Columbia. A good lookout
becomes even more vital.
• Slow down and be ready to stop if you sight another vessel or hear a fog
signal.

31. Rule 19: Restricted Visibility
• For fog signals heard forward of the beam, reduce
speed to minimum steerageway and navigate
cautiously.
• Actions to take on hearing a fog signal forward of the
beam can shown as:

33. Part C - Lights and Shapes

34. Navigation Lights
• Vessels that operate from sunset to sunrise, whether
at anchor or underway, must carry and exhibit the
correct lights.
• A vessel is underway when not anchored, moored to
the shore or aground.
• Navigation lights must also be displayed during
daylight hours in periods of restricted visibility.
• All vessels must comply with the regulations
concerning lighting.

35. Navigation Lights
1. Masthead light
2. Port side light
3. Starboard side light
4. Stern light
5. Towing light

36. Navigation Shapes
• Vessels towing, and also on the tow
• Deep draft vessels
• Vessel under sails but using machinery to propel
• Vessels at anchor

37. Navigation Shapes
• All fishing vessels
In addition in the direction of her gear or nets

38. Navigation Shapes
• Vessel not under command
• Vessel engaged
in mine clearance

39. Navigation Shapes
• Vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre
Safe side to pass
Side with obstruction

40. Navigation Shapes
• Vessel aground

41. Navigation Shapes
• Vessel operating divers

42. – Rule 32 - Definitions
– Rule 34 - Manoeuvring and Warning Signals
– Rule 35 - Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility
– Rule 36 - Signals to Attract Attention
– Rule 37 - Distress Signals
– Annexes I -V
Part D - Sound and Light Signals

43. Rule 32 - Definitions
• Sound signals for signals of action
• Signals are sounded upon rudder order
• Exchanged by any vessel in proximity to another
vessel
• Exchanged if vessels are “in sight” and
manoeuvring is required

44. Rule 32 - Definitions
• Short Blast- about one second duration
• Long Blast - 4-6 second duration

45. Rule 33 - Equipment for Sound
Signals
• Vessels < 100m in length: whistle and bell
• Vessels >= 100m in length: whistle, bell, and gong
• Vessels < 12m in length: some type of sound signaling
device

46. Rule 34 - Manoeuvring and Warning
Signals
• Sound signals can be used by any vessel to indicate an action they are
about to take:
– One short blast: I am altering course to starboard.
– Two short blasts: I am altering course to port.
– Three short blasts: My engines are going astern.

47. Rule 34 - Manoeuvring and Warning
Signals
– Five short blasts:
– Officially - I am unsure of your intentions;
– Practically - you are not following the rules;
– or “wake up you ***** idiot”.

48. Rule 34: Manoeuvring and
Warning Signals - Overtaking
An overtaking situation exists when a vessel approaches another
vessel more than 22.5o abaft the beam of the overtaken vessel.

49. Rule 34: Manoeuvring and
Warning Signals- Crossing
At night, the stand-on vessel sees the green sidelight of the give-
way vessel, and the give-way vessel sees the red sidelight of
the stand-on vessel.

50. Rule 34: Manoeuvring and
Warning Signals - Meeting
A meeting situation exists if two power vessels approach
on reciprocal or near reciprocal courses.

51. Rule 34 - Manoeuvring and Warning
Signals
• Vessel shall sound one long blast when coming to blind turn
BC Ferry in Active Pass

52. Rule 35 - Sound Signals in
Restricted Visibility
• Power driven vessel underway and making way (T)
• Power driven vessel underway and not making way
(stopped in the water) (M)

53. Rule 35 - Sound Signals in
Restricted Visibility
• Vessel not under command, restricted in ability to
manoeuvre, sailing, fishing or towing (D)
• Last vessel of a tow (B)

54. Rule 35 - Sound Signals in
Restricted Visibility
• Pilot vessel on duty (H)

55. Rule 35 - Sound Signals in
Restricted Visibility
• Vessels at anchor, including vessel working at anchor
Bell ringing for 5 second.
• If more than 100 metres
Bell ringing for 5 seconds forward then gong sounded for
5 seconds aft.
• In addition may sound (R)

56. Rule 35 - Sound Signals in
Restricted Visibility
• Vessels aground
Bell - Bell- Bell -Bell ringing for 5 seconds - Bell - Bell -
Bell.
• Vessel aground if more than 100 metres
Bell - Bell- Bell -Bell ringing for 5 seconds - Bell - Bell -
Bell, then gong sounded for 5 seconds aft.

57. Rule 35 - Sound Signals in
Restricted Visibility
• Vessels less than 12 metres in length shall make an
efficient sound signal at least every 2 minutes.

58. Rule 36 - Signals to Attract
Attention
• If a vessel needs to attract the attention of
another vessel she may use a searchlight to
show direction of a danger.
• However any signal must be such as not to be
confused with a navigational aid, so flashing
lights or strobes are not to be used.

59. Rule 37 - Distress Signals
. . . _ _ _ . . . (SOS)
MAYDAY Two tone alarm
VHF-DSC