Maritime Rules of the Road - Signals and COLREG Annexes

Become an authority on the rules in part C (Rules 20-31) and D (Rules 32-36) of the Maritime Rules of the Road together with the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREG) annexes with this course. You can apply some of these rules in good and bad weather conditions. Each navigation light's range is specified and divided based on the ship's length. This course discusses the lights displayed by normal power-driven vessels, towing and pushing vessels. Variations of the standard power-driven vessel need to show additional flashing lights to highlight their peculiarity. Discover that a sailing vessel needs additional lights other than the sidelights and stern light. Compare the differences between the ‘Not Under Command’ light (NUC) and the distress signal. This course provides information on vessels constrained by their draught, vessels engaged in pilotage duty, anchored vessels and vessels aground. We take you through the sound and light signalling equipment requirements for vessels and present an overview of the COLREG Annexes.

Next, we will examine the application of the maritime rules of the road relating to lights and shapes. We describe how the rules concerning lights must be complied with from sunset to sunrise. We demonstrate sidelights and the details of the range of navigation lights involving vessels of different lengths, the rules of towing and pushing and the nature of lights to be displayed by towing and pushing vessels. You will learn about vessels engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, exhibiting only the lights and shapes prescribed in the fishing vessels rule. You will also study the positioning and technical details of lights and shapes, including additional signals for fishing vessels fishing nearby. Then we analyse the technical details of sound signal appliances and the distress signals that can indicate distress situations at sea.

This course will help you identify the attributes exhibited by vessels ‘not under command’ or restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. Become familiar with the major reasons you describe NUC vessels as ‘disabled vessels’. The course teaches the leading causes of engine breakdown or rudder damage in vessels. Vessels restricted in ability to manoeuvre have known limitations. We will guide you through the enabling factors that ensure you restrict a mine-clearance vessel in her ability to manoeuvre and how these rafts would show masthead light, sidelights and stern lights while moving through water. We introduce you to the dynamics of vessels engaged in dredging operations that do not require you to show anchor lights. Explore how vessels engaged in clearance have a unique combination of navigation lights due to the nature of their hazardous work. If you are interested in exploring the rules that guide the operation of vessels at sea, then this course is a great fit for you. So enrol today!