The collision regulations in plain English: who keeps clear, what the stand-on vessel must do, lights, shapes and sound signals.
COLREGs
Eight questions, asked in the same order every time — in sight? overtaking? what are they? which rule? who keeps clear? what must the stand-on vessel do? is there risk? what action is enough? — applied to five worked scenarios.
11 min read
COLREGs
Sail vs sail, power vs power, overtaking, head-on and crossing: what COLREG Rules 12–18 actually require of the give-way and stand-on vessel, with diagrams and a reasoning sequence you can use in the exam and at sea.
12 min read
COLREGs
The four rules that apply in every condition of visibility and before any steering rule: what a proper look-out is, what decides a safe speed, how the rules define risk of collision, and what counts as action to avoid collision.
9 min read
COLREGs
Masthead, sidelights and sternlight and their arcs, then the extra lights that tell you a vessel is fishing, towing, anchored, not under command or restricted — with diagrams for each and the rules they come from.
12 min read
COLREGs
Why there is no give-way or stand-on vessel in fog, what Rule 19 requires of every vessel, the two alterations of course to avoid when you have only a radar contact, and the sound signals of Rule 35 with their intervals.
9 min read
COLREGs
What Rules 9 and 10 require of a yacht or small vessel in a narrow channel or a traffic separation scheme: keep to starboard, do not impede, cross at right angles, use the inshore zone — and what “not impede” means alongside the steering rules.
9 min read
