Navigation Rules1-5

References
33 CFR 83
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,
1972 (72 COLREGS)
Cornell University of Law
NOAA Marine Operations (General Shipboard Policy)
US Coast Guard Navigation Center
US Government Publishing Office (GPO)

What we’ll cover
The difference between “Shall” and “May”
Rule 1 Application
Rule 2 Responsibility
Rule 3 General Definitions
Rule 4 Application
Rule 5 Lookout

Shall and May
Shall – You will do it
May – You can do it, if you so
choose to

Part A I Subpart A - General
(Covers all 38 International & Inland
Navigation Rules and Annexes)
Rule 1 – Application
Rule 2 – Responsibility
Rule 3 – General Definitions
Part B I Subpart B - Steering and Sailing
Rules
Section 1 – Conduct of Vessels in Any
Condition of Visibility
Rule 4 – Application
Rule 5 – Lookout
(extends to Rule 10 – Traffic Separation Schemes)

International and Inland
General Rule Application
§83.01 (Where these
generalized rules APPLY)
1(a) These Rules apply to all vessels upon the inland waters of the United
States, and to vessels of the United States on the Canadian waters of
the Great Lakes to the extent that there is no conflict with Canadian
law.
1(b) These Rules constitute special rules made by an appropriate
authority within the meaning of of the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, including annexes.
1(c) All vessels in compliance with the construction and equipment
requirements of International Regulations are considered to be in
compliance with Inland Rules.

Rule 1(c)
Special Station or Signal Lights
Additional lights and shapes or whistle
signals, CANNOT be mistaken for any
light, shape, or signal authorized
elsewhere in these rules.

Example of a Sound Signal
not found in the
Navigational Rules
Abandon Ship - 6 short blast followed
by a prolong blast of the whistle and
the General Alarm

Submarines
may display a
distinctive
means of
identification
An all round
amber (yellow)
intermittent
flashing
beacon with a
sequence of
one flash per
second for 3
seconds
followed by a
three second
off period.
Rule 1(c) International
and Inland
Special Station or
Signal Lights (cont.)
(32 CFR 707.7)
Starboard side view of a
submarine

Rule 1(c) Special Station or Signal Lights
(32 CFR 706, cont.)
Rotating Beacons
Aircraft Warning
Lights

Rule 1(d) Application
Traffic separation schemes may be established for
the purpose of these Rules.

Rule 1(e) Application
If a vessel cannot comply with the specifications 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-signaling
appliances, the 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-
signaling appliances, as the Secretary shall have determined to
be the closest possible compliance with these Rules.

Rule 1(g) Inland Only
Vessels 12 meters (39.4 feet) and longer
shall carry on board and have it ready
to reference, a Navigation Rules Book

General Rule 2 Responsibility
§83.02
Who is responsible on a vessel?

General Rule 2
Responsibility §83.02
EVERYONE!
Each person is responsible
and must comply with these
rules.

General Rule 2(a)
No rule shall forgive any vessel, or the
owner, master or crew, for not
following these rules.

Rule 2(b) Responsibility
A “Special Circumstance” is a situation
comprising of three or more vessels
navigating in a common direction in the
same general area.
Sometimes you may navigate upon a Special
Circumstance.
Navigation rules book can not cover every
situation

Rule 2(b)
In understanding and obeying these
Rules due concern 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.
This rule is the foundation of
Rule 6 Safe Speed and Rule 8 Actions to Avoid
Collision.

Rule 3(a) International &
Inland §83.03
General Definitions
Unless otherwise specified 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.

Rule 3(b) International &
Inland
General Definitions
A Power Driven Vessel is any vessel propelled by
machinery

Rule 3(c) International &
Inland
General Definitions
A Sailing Vessel is any vessel under sail
provided that propelling machinery, if
attached, is not being used.

Rule 3(d) International &
Inland
General Definitions
A Vessel Engaged in
Fishing is any vessel
fishing with nets, lines,
trawls or other fishing
apparatus which restrict
maneuverability
but does not include a vessel
fishing with trolling lines or
other fishing apparatus which
do not restrict maneuverability

Rule 3(e) International &
Inland
General Definitions
The word Seaplane means any aircraft designed
to maneuver on the water.

Rule 3(f) International &
Inland
General Definitions
A Vessel Not Under Command is a vessel which
through some exceptional circumstance is unable to
maneuver as required by these rules and is therefore
unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
Broken rudder
A fishing vessel Hauling in her nets
Runaway engine

Rule 3(g) International &
Inland
General Definitions
Restricted in Her Ability to
Maneuver
is a vessel which from the nature of
her work, is restricted in her ability to
maneuver as required by the rules
and is therefore unable to keep out
of the way of another vessel.

Rule 3(h)
International Only
General Definitions
A Vessel Constrained by Draft
is a power driven vessel which because of her draft
in relation to the available depth and width of
navigable water is severely restricted in her ability to
deviate from the course she is following.
In “Inland Waters” all vessels are constrained by draft

Rule 3(i)
International & Inland
General Definitions
The word "underway" means that
a vessel is not at anchor, or made
fast to the shore, or aground.

Rule 3(j)
General Definitions
The words "length" and "breadth" of a
vessel mean her length overall and greatest
breadth.

Rule 3(k)
General Definitions
Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one
another only when one can be observed visually
from the other

Rule 3(l)
General Definitions
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

Rule 3(m)
General Definitions
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.

Rule 3(n)
Inland Only
General Definitions
"Western Rivers"
means the
Mississippi
River and its
Tributaries
A tributary is
a river or stream flowing into a larger
river or lake

Rule 3(o)
Inland Only
General Definitions
"Great Lakes"
means the Great Lakes and their
connecting tributary waters
including parts of Calumet River
and the Saint Lawrence River.

Rule 3(p)
Inland Only
General Definitions
Secretary
is the Secretary of the Department in which the
Coast Guard is operating.

Rule 3(q)
Inland Only
General Definitions
"Inland Waters"
means the navigable waters of the United
States shoreward of the navigational
demarcation lines dividing the high seas
from harbors, rivers and other inland waters
of the United States and the waters of the
Great Lakes on the United States side of the
International Boundary

Rule 3(r)
Inland Only
General Definitions
"Inland Rules" or "Rules"
Inland Navigational Rules and the
annexes thereto, which govern the
conduct of vessels and specify the
lights, shapes, and sound signals that
apply on inland waters.
Found on the Right page

Rule 3(s)
Inland Only
General Definitions
"International Regulations"
means the International Regulations
for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972,
including annexes
Found on the Left page

PART B I STEERING AND SAILING RULES
Conduct of Vessels in Any Condition of
Visibility.
Rule 4 Application §83.04
Rule 4 says these following rules apply in any
condition of visibility all over the world
Rule 5 Lookout
Rule 6 Safe Speed
Rule 7 Risk of Collision
Rule 8 Actions to Avoid Collision
Rule 9 Narrow Channels
Rule 10 Traffic Separation Schemes

Rule 5 Lookout §83.05
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.

Navigation Rules1-5

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