an instance of one moving object or
person striking violently against another.
occurs when a vessel strikes as stationary
object, such as bridge or dock.
The presently applicable Rules explained in
this course were adopted by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
in the “Convention on the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at
Sea” on 20th October 1972 which entered
into force on 15th July 1977.
Last amended in 2013 which became
effective from 1st January 2016 an adds
Part „F‟ to the Rules.
In law, coming into force or entry into
force is the process by which legislation,
regulations, treaties and other legal
instruments come to have a legal force
and effect.
an agreement between countries
covering particular matters, especially
one less formal than a treaty.
*Treaty
a formally concluded and ratified agreement between
countries.
Part A (General)- Rules 1 to 3
Part B (Steering & Sailing Rules)
Section I- “in any condition of
visibility” Rules 4 to 10
Section II- “apply to vessels in sight of
one another” Rules 11 to 18
Section III- “conduct of vessels in
restricted visibility” Rule 19
Part C (Lights & Shapes)- Rule 20 to 31
Part D (Sound and Light Signals)- Rule 32
to 37
Part E (Exemptions)- Rule 38
Part F (Verification of compliance with
the provisions of the Convention)- Rule
39 to 41
Annex I- Positioning and technical details
of lights and shapes
Annex II- Additional signals for fishing
vessels fishing in close proximity
Annex III- Technical details of sound
signal appliances
Annex IV- Distress signals
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 roadsteads,
harbors, 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.
Rule 1 - Application
• (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 whistle signals shall, so far
as possible, be such that they cannot be
mistaken for any light, shape or signal
authorized elsewhere under these Rules.
(d) Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the
Organization 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 provisions 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-
signaling appliances, 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
signaling appliances, as her Government shall have
determined to be the closest possible compliance
with these Rules in respect of that vessel.
Rule 1 (a) Rules shall apply to:
all vessels (as per definition stated in Rule
3(a) of these rule: covers all types of
crafts from the largest ships to the tiniest
rowing boat, be they civil or naval.
upon the high seas
in all waters connected therewith and
navigable by seagoing vessels
“High Seas”- means open seas, coastal
waters or waters far away from land;
Rule 1 (b)
Special Rules are :
o Local Rules which apply to :
Roadsteads- a sheltered stretch of water
near the shore in which ships can ride at
anchor.
Harbors
Rivers
Lakes or
Inland waterways
These special Rules must conform as closely as
possible with the 1972 Regulations
Rule 1 (b)
Local regulations can be found in:
– Sailing directions
– Pilot books
– Guide to Port Entry
– Etc.
*These are ship‟s publications that the
navigating officer is using as reference
for voyage planning.
Rule 1 (c)
For what type of ships can a Government
issue special rules ?
– Ships of war
– Vessels under convoy
– Fishing vessels fishing as a fleet
– LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) vessels
– Floating drill derricks
– Floating docks
– Dracones
– British submarines
– Aircraft-carriers
– Etc. (See also Rule 3 for types of ships)
The requirement that “such special rules
shall conform as closely as possible to
these Rules” is to eliminate major
differences between any “special rules”
and “these rules” to bring about greater
consistency between them which should
help minimize confusion and related
errors and thus reduce the potential for
any accidents; mainly collisions.
Is a large flexible watertight tube
intended to carry a liquid cargo while
towed mostly submerged behind a ship.
Rule 1 (d)
Traffic separation schemes (TSS) may be
adopted by the Organisation
Rule 1 (e)
Exceptions in the Rules may be made for
vessels of special construction
Aircraft carriers
Submarine
Hovercrafts
