Legal Definitions - International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, often referred to as the International Rules of the Road or simply COLREGs, are a comprehensive set of international rules that all vessels must follow to prevent collisions on the high seas and in connecting navigable waters. These regulations cover various aspects of maritime navigation, including the display of navigation lights and shapes, the use of sound signals, and specific rules for determining which vessel has the right-of-way in different encounter situations. Their primary purpose is to ensure safety at sea by providing a standardized framework for mariners worldwide.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of these regulations:

• Example 1: Right-of-Way at Sea

  Imagine a large cargo ship, a power-driven vessel, is crossing paths with a smaller sailboat in the open ocean. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, a power-driven vessel must generally keep out of the way of a sailing vessel when there is a risk of collision. In this scenario, the cargo ship's crew would be legally obligated to alter their course or speed to allow the sailboat to pass safely, demonstrating a fundamental rule designed to prevent accidents.

• Example 2: Navigation Lights at Night

  Consider a fishing trawler operating at night in busy shipping lanes. To comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the trawler must display specific navigation lights: a masthead light, sidelights (red on port, green on starboard), and a stern light, along with additional lights indicating it is engaged in fishing. These lights communicate the vessel's type, size, and direction of travel to other ships, allowing them to assess the situation and take appropriate action to avoid a collision in the darkness.

• Example 3: Sound Signals in Fog

  During a dense fog, a cruise liner is navigating through a channel. Because visibility is severely restricted, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea mandate that the cruise liner must sound its horn at regular intervals – specifically, one prolonged blast every two minutes. This sound signal alerts any nearby vessels, whose crews might not be able to see the cruise liner, to its presence and movement, thereby reducing the risk of a collision in conditions where visual cues are absent.