COLREGs – Section A: The Foundation of Safe Navigation
Rules 1–3 Every Seafarer Should Understand
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) provide the fundamental rules that govern how vessels navigate in relation to one another. Before learning who should give way, which vessel should keep course and speed, or what lights and shapes must be displayed, seafarers must first understand Part A – General.
Part A contains Rules 1, 2 and 3. These three rules establish the scope of the regulations, the responsibility of the master and crew, and the important definitions used throughout COLREGs.
Although these rules appear simple, they form the foundation for correctly interpreting the rest of the regulations.
RULE 1 — APPLICATION
Rule 1 explains where and to whom the COLREGs apply.
The regulations apply to vessels on the high seas and in waters connected with the high seas that are navigable by seagoing vessels.
This is important because COLREGs are intended to provide a consistent set of collision-prevention rules for ships operating in international waters and applicable navigable waters.
Local Rules Still Matter
Rule 1 also recognizes that certain waters may have special requirements.
Local authorities can establish special rules for areas such as:
- Harbours
- Rivers
- Roadsteads
- Inland waterways
- Special navigation areas
These local rules should be consistent with the COLREGs as far as practicable.
For a navigating officer, this means that knowing the COLREGs alone may not always be enough. Before entering a particular port or restricted waterway, the bridge team must also understand the local regulations and navigation requirements.
Special Vessel Requirements
Rule 1 also addresses situations where special requirements may apply to certain vessels or formations.
Naval vessels, vessels in convoy, and fishing fleets may operate under particular circumstances requiring special arrangements.
Similarly, certain vessels may be subject to additional requirements established by competent authorities.
The key lesson is:
COLREGs provide the international foundation, but navigators must also understand applicable local and special requirements.
RULE 2 — RESPONSIBILITY
Rule 2 is one of the most important principles in the entire COLREGs.
It emphasizes that following the rules does not remove the responsibility of the master, officer of the watch, crew, or vessel to take appropriate action when necessary.
A vessel must not blindly follow a rule if doing so would create danger.
The Importance of Good Seamanship
Rule 2 recognizes the importance of ordinary practice of seamen and the special circumstances of a situation.
This means that professional judgment remains essential.
For example, a vessel may technically have a particular right-of-way status, but if an unexpected danger develops, the navigating officer must take appropriate action to avoid a collision.
COLREGs are therefore not simply a collection of instructions to memorize.
They must be applied using:
Knowledge + Observation + Experience + Judgment
Special Circumstances
There may be situations where strict adherence to a particular rule is not sufficient to avoid immediate danger.
Examples can include:
- Restricted visibility
- Heavy traffic
- Narrow channels
- Sudden equipment failure
- Unexpected manoeuvres by another vessel
- Strong wind or current
- Fishing activity
- Restricted manoeuvrability
- Emergency situations
In such circumstances, the bridge team must assess the complete situation and act appropriately.
The Rule of Good Seamanship
A professional mariner should never think:
“I have the right of way, so I don't need to do anything.”
The primary objective is always:
Preventing collision and protecting life, vessel and environment.
This is why situational awareness is so important.
The officer must continuously observe the traffic situation, evaluate developing risks and determine whether action is required.
RULE 3 — DEFINITIONS
Rule 3 provides important definitions used throughout the COLREGs.
Understanding these terms is essential because later rules rely heavily on them.
A seafarer who misunderstands these definitions can easily misunderstand the rules that follow.
VESSEL
Under COLREGs, a vessel is broadly defined as every description of watercraft, including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.
This broad definition ensures that the regulations cover a wide variety of watercraft.
POWER-DRIVEN VESSEL
A power-driven vessel is a vessel propelled by machinery.
This definition becomes especially important in the steering and sailing rules because different vessel categories have different responsibilities.
SAILING VESSEL
A sailing vessel is a vessel under sail, provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.
This distinction is important when determining which COLREG provisions apply during an encounter.
VESSEL ENGAGED IN FISHING
A vessel engaged in fishing refers to a vessel fishing with equipment that restricts its manoeuvrability.
Not every vessel carrying fishing equipment automatically falls into this category.
The nature of the fishing operation and the effect it has on the vessel's ability to manoeuvre are important.
SEAPLANE
A seaplane includes an aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water.
COLREGs recognize that such craft can interact with vessels and therefore include them within the regulatory framework.
VESSEL NOT UNDER COMMAND
A vessel is considered not under command when, because of some exceptional circumstance, it is unable to manoeuvre as required by the COLREGs and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
Examples could include certain serious machinery or steering failures.
This status has specific implications for lights, shapes and sound signals.
VESSEL RESTRICTED IN HER ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE
A vessel may be restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when the nature of her work restricts her ability to manoeuvre as required by the COLREGs.
Examples can include vessels involved in:
- Laying or servicing navigation marks
- Submarine cable operations
- Dredging
- Surveying
- Replenishment operations
- Launching or recovering aircraft
- Mine clearance
- Certain towing operations
The important point is that the restriction must arise from the nature of the work being carried out.
VESSEL CONSTRAINED BY HER DRAUGHT
A vessel constrained by her draught is a power-driven vessel that, 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.
This definition is particularly relevant in areas with limited navigable depth.
WHY PART A MATTERS
At first glance, Rules 1–3 may seem less dramatic than the collision-avoidance rules that follow.
But they establish the framework for understanding everything that comes next.
Before learning:
- Rule 5 — Look-out
- Rule 6 — Safe Speed
- Rule 7 — Risk of Collision
- Rule 8 — Action to Avoid Collision
- Rules 12–18 — Steering and Sailing
a seafarer must first understand where COLREGs apply, who is responsible, and what the important vessel classifications mean.
FROM RULES TO REAL-WORLD DECISIONS
Imagine two vessels approaching each other at night.
Before deciding who should manoeuvre, the officer needs to establish several things:
Where are we?
→ Rule 1 and applicable local requirements
What are our responsibilities?
→ Rule 2
What type of vessel are we?
→ Rule 3
What type of vessel is the other vessel?
→ Rule 3
Is there a risk of collision?
→ Later COLREG rules
What action should be taken?
→ Later steering and sailing rules
This demonstrates why Part A is so important.
Correct interpretation must come before correct action.
CONCLUSION
COLREGs Part A — General may contain only three rules, but these rules provide the foundation for understanding the entire collision-prevention system.
Rule 1 establishes the application of the regulations.
Rule 2 emphasizes responsibility, good seamanship and the need to respond appropriately to special circumstances.
Rule 3 defines the vessel categories and terminology that are essential for interpreting later rules.
For cadets and experienced seafarers alike, mastering these fundamentals makes the more complex steering, sailing, lights, shapes and sound-signal rules much easier to understand.
Know the definitions. Understand the responsibility. Apply the rules with good seamanship.
That is where safe navigation begins.
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