COLREG Regulations Summary

A collection of flashcards summarizing key terminology and concepts from the COLREG Regulations.

High seas

Waters that are not under the jurisdiction of any country's laws.

Traffic separation schemes

Strategies adopted to manage and separate maritime traffic to prevent collisions.

Vessel

Any type of craft used for maritime transportation, including ships, boats, and seaplanes.

Power-driven vessel

A vessel propelled by machinery.

Sailing vessel

A vessel under sail, without its propelling machinery being used.

Seaplane

Any aircraft designed to operate on water.

Vessel engaged in fishing

A vessel fishing with nets, lines, or trawls that restrict maneuverability.

Restricted visibility

Conditions that limit visibility due to fog, rain, etc.

Look-out

The act of maintaining a watch for other vessels and hazards.

Safe speed

A speed that allows a vessel to take effective action to avoid collisions.

Risk of collision

A situation where two vessels may collide; assessed using navigational techniques.

Action to avoid collision

Measures taken by a vessel to ensure safe passage when faced with another vessel.

Narrow channel

A restricted waterway where vessels must navigate carefully.

Pilot vessel

A vessel engaged in providing pilotage services to other ships.

Vessel not under command

A vessel unable to maneuver due to exceptional circumstances.

Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver

A vessel limited in movement due to its operations.

Vessels constrained by their draught

A vessel restricted in its ability to deviate due to water depth.

Sound signals

Audible signals used to communicate intentions or maneuvers at sea.

Distress signals

Signals used by a vessel in distress to seek assistance.

Exemptions

Conditions under which certain vessels may not need to comply with specific regulations.

Audit

A systematic review process to check compliance with regulations.

Audit standard

Criteria used to evaluate conformity with regulatory requirements.

Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Rules that apply to ships navigating in conditions where visibility is severely limited.

Masthead light

A white light showing an uninterrupted light over an arc of 225° on a vessel.

Sidelights

Green and red lights indicating a vessel's starboard and port sides, respectively.

Towing light

A yellow light displayed by a vessel engaged in towing.

Maneuvering signals

Signals used by vessels to indicate their movements to others.

Collision avoidance measures

Actions taken to prevent maritime collisions.