Colregs new amendments

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) are a set of rules that govern the behavior of vessels at sea to prevent collisions. The COLREGs have been amended several times over the years to reflect changes in maritime technology, navigation practices, and safety concerns.

The most recent amendments to the COLREGs were adopted in 2003 and came into force on July 19, 2002. These amendments introduced several new rules and changes to existing rules, including:

  1. Rule 2: Definitions - The definition of "vessel" was expanded to include unmanned vessels, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
  2. Rule 3: General - The rule now requires vessels to take all necessary steps to avoid a collision, including altering course or speed as necessary.
  3. Rule 5: Lookout - The rule now requires vessels to have a lookout on watch at all times, and to use all available means to make observations and warnings.
  4. Rule 6: Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility - The rule now requires vessels to proceed with caution in restricted visibility, and to use all available means to determine their position and course.
  5. Rule 7: Navigation lights - The rule now requires vessels to display navigation lights in accordance with the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) recommendations.
  6. Rule 8: Shapes and sounds signals - The rule now requires vessels to display shapes and sound signals in accordance with the IALA recommendations.
  7. Rule 9: Sound signals - The rule now requires vessels to use sound signals in accordance with the IALA recommendations.
  8. Rule 10: Visibility of lights and shapes - The rule now requires vessels to ensure that their lights and shapes are visible from all directions.
  9. Rule 11: Sound signals - The rule now requires vessels to use sound signals in accordance with the IALA recommendations.
  10. Rule 12: Action by day vessels - The rule now requires day vessels to take all necessary steps to avoid a collision, including altering course or speed as necessary.
  11. Rule 13: Action by night vessels - The rule now requires night vessels to take all necessary steps to avoid a collision, including altering course or speed as necessary.
  12. Rule 14: Speed - The rule now requires vessels to proceed at a safe speed, taking into account the vessel's maneuverability, sea and weather conditions, and other vessels in the vicinity.
  13. Rule 15: Maneuvering - The rule now requires vessels to maneuver in a safe and prudent manner, taking into account the vessel's maneuverability, sea and weather conditions, and other vessels in the vicinity.
  14. Rule 16: Traffic separation schemes - The rule now requires vessels to comply with traffic separation schemes, which are designed to reduce the risk of collisions between vessels.
  15. Rule 17: Lights and shapes - The rule now requires vessels to display lights and shapes in accordance with the IALA recommendations.
  16. Rule 18: Sound signals - The rule now requires vessels to use sound signals in accordance with the IALA recommendations.
  17. Rule 19: Action by vessels in sight of one another - The rule now requires vessels to take all necessary steps to avoid a collision, including altering course or speed as necessary, when they are in sight of one another.
  18. Rule 20: Action by vessels in sight of one another - The rule now requires vessels to take all necessary steps to avoid a collision, including altering course or speed as necessary, when they are in sight of one another.
  19. Rule 21: Action by vessels in sight of one another - The rule now requires vessels to take all necessary steps to avoid a collision, including altering course or speed as necessary, when they are in sight of one another.
  20. Rule 22: Action by vessels in sight of one another - The rule now requires vessels to take all necessary steps to avoid a collision, including altering course or speed as necessary, when they are in sight of one another.

These amendments were designed to improve the safety of navigation and reduce the risk of collisions at sea.