COLREGs (72)

The 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea entered into force on 15 July 1977 and is the governing instrument for collision avoidance on all waters connected to the high seas. Its 41 rules split into steering and sailing rules (Part B, Rules 4 to 19), lights and shapes (Part C), and sound and light signals (Part D). Rule 2 keeps the master’s responsibility for ordinary practice and special circumstances intact even where a literal reading of another rule would not. Amendments are adopted by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee under a tacit-acceptance procedure.