FOSMA Notes on COLREGS- Rule No.
Rule 1 (Application)
(a) These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected
therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.
(b) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an
appropriate authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways
connected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall
conform as closely as possible to these Rules.
(c) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by
the Government of any State with respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or
whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to
additional station or signal lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a
fleet.
These additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistles shall, so far as possible, be
such that they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorised elsewhere
under these Rules.
(d) Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) may be adopted by the Organisation for the purpose
of these Rules.
(e) Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special
construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provision of any of these Rules
with respect to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well
as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, such vessel shall
comply with such other provisions in regard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility
of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling
appliances, as her Government shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance
with these Rules in respect of that vessel.
Applying of the Rules
• Rule(s) to be applied: Rule 1 (Application)
• Applying the Rule(s) and comments:
In accordance with Rule 1 (a) (Application), these Rules shall apply to all vessels
upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing
vessels.
Comments:
High seas are all parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial sea or in the
internal waters of any nation.
Notes compiled by Capt. Subhadip Banerjee, Faculty, FOSMA, Kolkata
FOSMA Notes on COLREGS- Rule No.1
Special rules made by an appropriate authority for navigable waters connected with the
high seas
• Rule(s) to be applied: Rule 1 (Application)
Applying the Rule(s) and comments:
• In accordance with Rule 1 (b) (Application), nothing in these Rules shall interfere
with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadsteads,
harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and
navigable by seagoing vessels.
In accordance with Rule 1 (b) (Application), such special rules shall conform as
closely as possible to these Rules.
Special rules made by the Government of any State with respect to additional station or
signal lights, shapes or whistle signals
• Rule(s) to be applied: Rule 1 (Application)
• Applying the Rule(s) and comments:
• In accordance with Rule 1 (c) (Application), nothing in these Rules shall interfere
with the operation of any special rules made by the Government of any State with
respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war
and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to additional station or signal
lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet.
• In accordance with Rule 1 (c) (Application), these additional station or signal lights,
shapes or whistle signals shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be
mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorized elsewhere under these Rules.
Adoption of Traffic Separation Schemes by the Organisation
• Rule(s) to be applied: Rule 1 (Application)
• Applying the Rule(s) and comments:
In accordance with Rule 1 (d) (Application), traffic separation schemes may be
adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules.
Comments:
Organization means International Maritime Organization.
Organization is authorised to adopt Traffic Separation Schemes to which the
provisions of Rule 10 will apply.
Vessel of special construction or purpose which cannot comply fully with the provisions
of any of these Rules
• Rule(s) to be applied:Rule 1 (Application)
•
Notes compiled by Capt. Subhadip Banerjee, Faculty, FOSMA, Kolkata
FOSMA Notes on COLREGS- Rule No.1
• Applying the Rule(s) and comments:
• In accordance with Rule 1 (e) (Application), whenever the Government concerned
shall have determined that a vessel of special construction or purpose cannot comply
fully with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to the number, position,
range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and
characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, such vessel shall comply with such
other provisions in regard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights
or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling
appliances, as her Government shall have determined to be the closest possible
compliance with these Rules in respect of that vessel.
Explanation
➢ The word “WILL” express the strong intention or claim about the future
events.
➢ The word “SHOULD” is used for recommendation of something right.
➢ The word “SHALL” expresses a strong intention or an order which must be
followed.
➢ The whole meaning may change by the use of the different word. And that is
why your teachers and seniors must have told you to learn all the Rules by
heart word by word.
• Rule 1 (a)
Rules shall apply to:
* all vessels
* upon the high seas
* in all waters connected therewith
* and
* navigable by seagoing vessels
High seas are all parts of the sea that are not
included in the territorial sea or in the internal
waters of any nation.
Q. Having noted above my question to you can
we apply theses rules on a fishing vessel in a lake
which is not connected with the High seas?
The answer is NO. Let’s Find out why?
Because the rule is saying the rule is applying to
all vessels upon the High Seas and in all waters
that follow the following two criteria:
Criteria 1: That the water body shall be connected to the High Seas.
Notes compiled by Capt. Subhadip Banerjee, Faculty, FOSMA, Kolkata
FOSMA Notes on COLREGS- Rule No.1
Criteria 2: The waterbody should be navigable by seagoing vessels. Which means that the
water bodies must have sufficient depth and width so that the sea going vessels can safely
navigate through them.
• Rule 1 (b)
Special Rules are :
Local Rules that apply to :
* Roadsteads
* Harbours
* Rivers
* Lakes or Inland
waterways
These special Rules must conform as closely as possible with the 1972
Regulations
Rule 1 (b)
Mariners can find Local
regulations in:
* Sailing directions
* Pilot books
* Guide to Port Entry
• Rule 1 (c)
For what type of ships can a Government issue special rules ?
* Ships of war
* Vessels under convoy
* Fishing vessels fishing as a
fleet
* Dracones
* Submarines
* Aircraft-carriers
Next part is that the characteristics of additional systems shall be different from the
systems mentioned in these rules.
This is to ensure that there is no
confusion in identification and
additional requirements are not
mixed up with normal requirements.
Notes compiled by Capt. Subhadip Banerjee, Faculty, FOSMA, Kolkata
FOSMA Notes on COLREGS- Rule No.1
Rule 1 (d)
* Traffic separation schemes (TSS) may be
adopted by the Organisation
Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) is
basically the management of vessel at sea
, which is covered in details in
COLREGS Rule No. 10 , later.
• In accordance with Rule 1 (e) (Application),
whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special
construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provisions of any of these Rules
with respect to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as
well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, such
vessel shall comply with such other provisions in regard to the number, position,
range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and
characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as her Government shall have
determined to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect of that
vessel.
This rule applies to the vessels of special construction or special purpose, such as
aircraft carriers, submarines manoeuvring on the water surface.
If due to the nature of the work and special construction, a vessel is unable to comply
with the provision stated in the rules.
Then the Govt. of the Flag State can approve alternate provisions in all these aspects
For example of Aircraft Carriers.
➢ Air Craft Carriers come under vessels of special construction.
➢ It is seen that the Superstructure is situated on one side and side lights are
placed on both side of the superstructure.
➢ Also Masthead light may not be placed on the centre line.
Another example is Submarine.
➢ They may have the Mast head lights placed lower than their side lights.
The difference between Rule 1c and 1e
➢ Rule 1c talks about special rules with features which cannot be mistaken with any
other rule features, and these special rules are additional to normal requirements
➢ Whereas in Rule 1e, Govt. can approve special requirements in place of other or
alternate substitute.
Questions and Answers
Q1 If you were in charge of motor launch approaching the Port of Dublin and
you meet a large ferry, do the IRPCS apply?
Notes compiled by Capt. Subhadip Banerjee, Faculty, FOSMA, Kolkata
FOSMA Notes on COLREGS- Rule No.1
• Answer
Yes they do apply as you in a vessels on high seas and in navigable waters
connected to the high seas.
• Q2 Can Governments make modifications to the COLREGS in relation to
additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war
and vessels proceeding under convoy and station or signal lights or shapes
for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet?
• Answer
Yes Governments are allowed to make modifications to additional station or
signal lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels
proceeding under convoy and station or signal lights or shapes for fishing
vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet
Notes compiled by Capt. Subhadip Banerjee, Faculty, FOSMA, Kolkata
