Collisions between ships or vessels are one of the most dangerous and frequently occurring mishaps on national and international waters. These collisions not only result in vessel damage but often result in serious personal injury or death. Often the collision will result in people on board being thrown overboard by the force of the impact.
The thirty eight rules and four annexes contained within this publication are specifically designed to help you prevent vessel collisions. All mariners are required to know and responsibly apply these navigation rules when operating their vessels.
The General Topic - covers application, responsibility and general definitions.
Steering and Sailing Rules Topic - covers the rules concerning meeting, crossing and overtaking situations and actions to avoid collision.
The Lights and Shapes Topic - covers all the possible lighting configurations as well as the day shapes required to be displayed on certain vessels.
