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ColRegs

Capt. Ch. Sensen

HZS-NW-NAV-NW150  Versie 002  30012017

1Bach L01 R3

Antwerp Maritime Academy

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 Very important course (= taxi or bus driver …)

 Learn regularly !!!

 Yachtsman => watch out

 OLD text  Technologies (AIS, ECDIS, RADAR…)

 New COLREG ?

 Short text but difficult to read/understand subtleties'

 Internet => Pay attention… lots of wrong information

 FR & EN => official version

 !!! Audit part F !!! Assessment !!!

COLREG
Convention on the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972

Internationale bepalingen ter voorkoming van

aanvaringen op zee, 1972 (ZAR)

Règlement international pour prévenir les

abordages en mer, 1972 (RIPAM)

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20th October 1972 : Convention was adopted

by many states
15th july 1977 : Convention entered into force

Amended in 1981, 1987, 1989, 1993 & 2001

Currently the fourth edition

Consolidated edition 2003
+ New amendments of 2009 & 2016

Always use the last version

updated with the last amendment

Consolidated edition 2002

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CONTENTS

Part A General (Rule 1 to 3)

Part B Steering and sailing rules (Rule 4 to 19)

Part C Lights and 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)

CONTENTS

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

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1st Bachelor Nautical Sciences

!!! YOU RECOGNIZE A VESSEL & BUOYS !!!

Part A only Rule 3

Part C completely with annex I & II

Part D completely with annex III & IV

IALA Buoyage system (NP735)

1st Bachelor Nautical Sciences

Examination => Written

1st part : MCQ

Correct answer => +1
No answer or fault => - 0,5
I don’t know the answer => 0

2nd part : 1 word as answer for 1 question

3rd part : 2 open questions

In own language + English translation/term/abbreviation

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions

 Rule 3 is not the same as a dictionary

Type of vessel
(technics of the ship)
Status of the ship :
works undertaken or
characteristics of the ship

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL – VAARTUIG – NAVIRE

(a) 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 on water.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL – VAARTUIG – NAVIRE

 Every description of water craft including

 Non-displacement craft
 Hovercraft

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL – VAARTUIG – NAVIRE

 Every description of water craft including

 Non-displacement craft
 Hovercraft
 Hydrofoil

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL – VAARTUIG – NAVIRE

 Every description of water craft including

 Non-displacement craft
 WIG craft (Wing in ground – WIG tuig – Navion)

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL – VAARTUIG – NAVIRE

 Every description of water craft including

 Non-displacement craft
 WIG craft (Wing in ground – WIG tuig – Navion)
 Seaplanes

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL – VAARTUIG – NAVIRE

 Used or capable of being used as a means for transportation on water

 Barges (cranes barges, accommodation barges, jack-up barges)
 Rafts (vlotten – radeau)
 Dredgers
 Small and large pleasure boat
 Fast and slow boats
 Navy & merchant marine ships

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
POWER-DRIVEN VESSEL (PDV)
WERKTUIGLIJK VOORTBEWOGEN VAARTUIG (WVV)
NAVIRE A PROPULSION MECANIQUE (NAPM)

(b) The term power-driven vessel means any vessel propelled by machinery.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
POWER-DRIVEN VESSEL (PDV)
WERKTUIGLIJK VOORTBEWOGEN VAARTUIG (WVV)
NAVIRE A PROPULSION MECANIQUE (NAPM)

Vessel propelled by her own machinery (towing vessel  towed vessel)

Vessel capable of using their machinery immediately (Sailing vessels)

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
SAILING VESSEL - ZEILVAARTUIG - NAVIRE A VOILES

(c) The term sailing vessel means any vessel under sail provided that propelling
machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

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!!! Power-driven vessel not a sailing vessel !!!

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL ENGAGED IN FISHING
VAARTUIG BEZIG MET HET UITOEFENEN VAN DE VISSERIJ
NAVIRE EN TRAIN DE PECHER

(d) The term vessel engaged in fishing means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls
or other fishing apparatus which restrict manoeuvrability, but does not include a vessel
fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict
manoeuvrability.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL ENGAGED IN FISHING
VAARTUIG BEZIG MET HET UITOEFENEN VAN DE VISSERIJ
NAVIRE EN TRAIN DE PECHER

The term vessel engaged in fishing means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls
or other fishing apparatus which restrict manoeuvrability.

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!!! Power-driven vessels not fishing vessels !!!

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL ENGAGED IN FISHING
VAARTUIG BEZIG MET HET UITOEFENEN VAN DE VISSERIJ
NAVIRE EN TRAIN DE PECHER

Does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which
do not restrict manoeuvrability.

!!! Power-driven vessel !!!

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
UNDERWAY – VARENDE - EN ROUTE

The word underway means that a vessel is

• Not at anchor
• Not made fast to the shore,
• Not aground.

!!! At anchor = NOT UNDERWAY!!!

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!!! Anchor AWEIGH = UNDERWAY!!!

Anker los van de grond

Ancre haute

!!! Made fast to the shore = NOT UNDERWAY!!!

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!!! Aground = NOT UNDERWAY!!!

!!! VESSELS UNDERWAY !!!

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!!! VESSELS UNDERWAY !!!

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
UNDERWAY – VARENDE - EN ROUTE

A vessel underway can be:

• making way through the water (vaartlopend – avec erre)

• not making way through the water (niet vaartlopend – sans erre)

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
UNDERWAY – VARENDE - EN ROUTE

 Summary:

A vessel can be:

• Not underway
• Underway, making way through the water
• Underway, not making way through the water

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
SEAPLANE – WATERVLIEGTUIG – HYDRAVION

The word seaplane includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL NOT UNDER COMMAND (NUC)
ONMANEUVREERBAAR VAARTUIG
NAVIRE NON MAITRE DE SA MANOEUVRE

The term vessel not under command means a vessel which through some
exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is
therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL NOT UNDER COMMAND (NUC)
ONMANEUVREERBAAR VAARTUIG
NAVIRE NON MAITRE DE SA MANOEUVRE

The term vessel not under command means a vessel which through some
exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules
• Engine breakdown
• Rudder breakdown
• Not enough wind for a sailing vessel
• Due to the weather, vessel unable to keep course
• …….

Vessel unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL RESTRICTED IN HER ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE (RAM)
BEPERKT MANEUVREERBAAR VAARTUIG
NAVIRE A CAPACITE DE MANOEUVRE RESTREINTE

The term vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre means a vessel which from the
nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules
and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL RESTRICTED IN HER ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE (RAM)
BEPERKT MANEUVREERBAAR VAARTUIG
NAVIRE A CAPACITE DE MANOEUVRE RESTREINTE

The term vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre means a vessel which from the
nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules

 Vessel is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
 The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

(i) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a navigation mark,

submarine cable or pipeline;

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!!! Power-driven vessel not a RAM !!!

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
 The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

(ii) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;

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!!! Power-driven vessels not RAM vessels !!!

PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
 The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

(iii) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or

cargo while underway;

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!!! Not underway => not RAM !!!

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
 The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

(iv) a vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
 The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

(v) a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
 The term vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre shall include but not be limited to:

(vi) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel
and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSEL CONSTRAINED BY HER DRAUGHT (CBD)
VAARTUIG DOOR ZIJN DIEPGANG BEPERKT IN MANEUVREERBAARHEID
NAVIRE HANDICAPE PAR SON TIRANT D’EAU

The term vessel constrained by her draught means a power-driven vessel which,
because of her draught 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.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
LENGTH & BREADTH
LENGTE & BREEDTE
LONGUEUR & LARGEUR

The words length and breadth of a vessel mean her length overall and greatest
breadth.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER
VAARTUIGEN IN ZICHT VAN ELKAAR
NAVIRE EN VUE L’UN DE L’AUTRE

Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be
observed visually from the other.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER
VAARTUIGEN IN ZICHT VAN ELKAAR
NAVIRE EN VUE L’UN DE L’AUTRE

!!! Not valid if a vessel is sighted by radar !!!

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
RESTRICTED VISIBILITY
BEPERKT ZICHT
VISIBILITE REDUITE

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.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
WING IN GROUND
VLEUGELVAARTUIGEN (WIG TUIGEN)
NAVION

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.

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In the second World War pilots knew that when they lost an engine or fuel on the way back from the
enemy that they could reach home by flying just a few metres above the sea, thus needing less
power and saving fuel.

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PART A - GENERAL
Rule 3 General definitions
Summary:

Rule 3 is made so that everybody speaks the same language

 Rule 21 gives definitions related with lights and daymarks
 Rule 32 gives definitions related with sound and lightsignals

A vessel is to be considered as per her activity or circumstance at the moment

not for what she was built for:
 A towing vessel could be fishing and be considered as fishing vessel
 A fruitship could be considered as a tug vessel when towing another vessel and be
restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
 That is why we speak about a towing vessel and not a tug, a fishing vessel and not a
fisher,

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