THE COLREGS GUIDE — A FULLY ILLUSTRATED TEXTBOOK

The fourth edition of the world popular guide to ColRegs by Klaas van Dokkum, author of the famous Encyclopedia. In fact, learning the ColRegs itself should not preset the students with any significant problems. After satisfactory passing of the exams and tests they have the feeling that the ColRegs and ship maneuvers for giving way are not that complicated and hold no secrets.

Studying some of the other aspects of the nautical science often requires much more effort than it is usually required for mastering the ColRegs. However, the busy channels will demand a completely different approach to the applying the Rules. In the present document each of the Rules has its own page, while on the next page the accompanying amplifications are provided. The rulebook is arranged in five major parts. The first part provides general information including application of the rules and responsibility of the parties, plus general definitions used throughout the document.

The part B contains the steering and sailing rules, while the third part addresses the lights and shapes. In turn, the last two parts are combined in one dealing with the sound signals and exemptions that the ship may be granted. Four annexes provide some supplementary information of positioning and technical details of navigation lights and shapes, additional signals to be used by fishing vessels, details of the sound appliances and distress signals.