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Navigation Rules: Rules of
The Road, Updated Edition
Updated Regularly
This book contains a complete copy of
the Inland and International Navigation Rules as presented
by the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard requires
that an up-to-date copy such as this one be carried on all
vessels 12 meters (39 feet) or more in length at all times.
We frequently update this title for corrections presented in
Notice to Mariners. We have also included detailed
instructions on how to log on to the NIMA website to update
your Nav Rules. We have added an annotated table of contents
to help the reader find the rule they seek, no such feature
is found in the government edition.
What are the Navigation Rules?
The Navigation Rules are much like the rules of the road
for automobiles. They establish a consistent way to navigate
safely and avoid collisions, discuss rules for warning
signs, signals, lights and shapes and more. This book is
required on all vessels 12 meters (39 feet) or more in
length at all times. About
Navigation Rules (from the Introduction):
The International Rules in this book were formalized in the
Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea,1972,and became effective on July 15,1977.
The Rules (commonly called 72 COLREGS) are part of the
Convention, and vessels flying the flags of states ratifying
the treaty are bound to the Rules. The United States has
ratified this treaty and all United States flag vessels must
adhere to these Rules where applicable. President Gerald R.
Ford proclaimed 72 COLREGS and the Congress adopted them as
the International Navigational Rules Act of 1977.
The 72 COLREGS were developed by the
Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO)
which in May 1982 was renamed the International Maritime
Organization (IMO). In November 1981,IMO ’s Assembly adopted
55 amendments to the 72 COLREGS which became effective on
June 1,1983.The IMO also adopted 9 more amendments which
became effective on November 19,1989. The International
Rules in this book contain these amendments.
These Rules are applicable on
waters outside of established navigational lines of
demarcation. The lines are called COLREGS Demarcation Lines
and delineate those waters upon which mariners shall comply
with the Inland and International Rules. COLREGS Demarcation
Lines are contained in this book.
The Inland Rules in this book
replace the old Inland Rules, Western Rivers Rules, Great
Lakes Rules, their respective pilot rules and interpretive
rules, and parts of the Motorboat Act of 1940. Many of the
old navigation rules were originally enacted in the last
century. Occasionally, provisions were added to cope with
the increasing complexities of water transportation.
Eventually, the navigation rules for United States inland
waterways became such a confusing patchwork of requirements
that in the 1960's several attempts were made to revise and
simplify them. These attempts were not successful.
Following the signing of the
Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea,1972,a new effort was made to unify and
update the various inland navigation rules. This effort
culminated in the enactment of the Inland Navigational Rules
Act of 1980. This legislation sets out Rules 1 through 38
—the main body of the Rules. The five Annexes were published
as regulations. It is
important to note that with the exception of Annex V to the
Inland Rules, the International and Inland Rules and Annexes
are very similar in both content and format. |
