International Maritime Regulations

• Lecture 9 concerns the Regulation for Preventing Collisions at Sea Convention (COLREG, 1972)

• In South Korea in 2015, 2,740 maritime accidents occurred, double the prior annual average of just over 1,300

• There were 112 deaths or missing persons, significantly higher than the previous yearly average of 67-85 people between 2011 and 2013

• Two cargo ships collided in the Seto Inland Sea off Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

• The incident resulted in two deaths and one injury

• The Yamato Maru No. 8, owned by a company in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, capsized after colliding with the 499-ton Hoshou Maru, owned by a sea shipping company in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture

• The collision occurred near Ieshima Island

• Two ships collided in the Mediterranean Sea near Corsica

• The collision between a Tunisian and a Cypriot ship caused pollution stretching 4 kilometers across the water

• Assistance for cleanup efforts was sent by Italy and France

• A tanker named "A symphony" was struck by a cargo ship named "The Sea Justice" in the Yellow Sea, southeast of China resulting in 400 tons of oil spilling

Intro - Brief history of COLREG

• Before a unified set of international rules and practices, different regions had separate practices, conventions, and informal procedures
• This resulted in inconsistencies and contradictions, leading to unintended collisions
• Vessel navigation lights and navigation marks were not standardized, causing dangerous confusion, and ambiguity between vessels at risk of collisions
• Sailing vessels are limited in maneuverability, while steamships can maneuver in all directions regardless of wind conditions
• With the advent of steamships in the mid-19th century, conventions for sailing vessel navigation were supplemented with conventions for power-driven vessel navigation

What are COLREGS

• The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGs) are published by the IMO
• They set out "rules of the road" or navigation rules for ships and vessels to prevent collisions
• COLREGs can also refer to the political line that divides inland waterways (subject to their own navigation rules) from coastal waterways (subject to international navigation rules)
• The COLREGs are derived from the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, a multilateral treaty

Establishment of COLREG

• The IMO adopted COLREG on 20 October 1972, entering into force on 15 July 1977, updating and replacing the Collision Regulations of 1960
• The first Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) was established in the Dover Strait in 1967
• In 1971, the IMO Assembly adopted a resolution making the observance of all traffic separation schemes mandatory, clarified by the COLREGs
• As of June 2013, 155 states, representing 98.7% of the world's merchant fleets, ratified the convention
• Amendments were introduced in 1981, 1987, 1989, and 1993 are already EIF
• Amendments were made to Rule 10 in 1981 regarding dredging or surveying in traffic separation schemes
• In 1987, amendments were made to rules for vessels of special construction, vessels constrained by her draught, and crossing traffic lanes
• In 1989, Rule 10 was altered to stop unnecessary use of the inshore traffic zones associated with TSS
• Position of lights on vessels was amended in 1993

Traffic Separation Scheme

• A Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) is a routing measure to separate opposing traffic streams through appropriate means and traffic lanes

• TSS improves navigation safety in areas with high traffic density or restricted traffic movement

• IMO-adopted Mandatory Ship Reporting System known as STRAITREP enhances navigational safety and protects the marine environment in the SOMS

• Skim Pemisahan Trafik (SPK) denotes an area where navigation rules are established within specific lanes for ships to maintain the same direction

• SPK is typically established in regions of high vessel traffic moving in diverse directions, posing elevated collision risks

COLREGS

• The COLREGs include 41 rules in six sections:
• Part A - General; (Rules 1-3)
• Part B - Steering and Sailing; (Rules 4 – 19)
• Section 1 - Conduct of vessels in any condition of visibility (Rules 4-10)
• Section II - Conduct of vessels in sight of one another (Rules 11-18)
• Section III - Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility (Rule 19)
• Part C - Lights and Shapes; (Rules 20 – 31)
• Part D - Sound and Light Signals; (Rules 32–37)
• Part E - Exemptions; (Rule 38)
• Part F - Verification of compliance with the provisions of the Convention. (Rules 39 – 41)
• The COLREGs include four annexes:
• Annex I - Positioning and technical details of lights and shapes
• Annex II - Additional signals for fishing vessels fishing in close proximity
• Annex III - Technical details of sounds signal appliances
• Annex IV - Distress signals, which lists the signals indicating distress and need of assistance

No right-of-way

• A common misconception suggests that vessels gain rights of way over others by following specific rules
• However, no vessel ever has "right of way" over other vessels but instead, can be a "give way" vessel and a "stand on" vessel
• Alternatively, vessels with no "stand on" can be "give way"
• A stand-on vessel does not have a right of way over any give-way vessel and has an obligation to keep a constant course and speed
• A stand-on vessel may need to give way, particularly when a collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel alone
• Thus, for example, two power-driven vessels approaching each other head-to-head, are both deemed to be "give way", requiring both to alter course to avoid collision

General Boat Terms

• The left side of a vessel is "port"
• The right side is "starboard".
• A diagram illustrates different maneuvering scenarios including:
  • Head-on
  • Crossing (Stand on)
  • Crossing (Give way)
  • Overtaking

Steering & Sailing

• An office for boating safety reminds that any vessel overtaking another must keep clear
• Power-driven vessels approaching from the port side should maintain course and caution
• Vessels approached from the starboard side must keep out of the way
• Vessels approached from the stern maintain course and caution

Lights and Shapes

• Visual aids exist to help recognize vessels

Sound and Light Signals

• Several key signals assist in vessel communication

Understand the rules and regulations for preventing collisions at sea, including the role of the IMO, the significance of traffic separation schemes, and the impact of the COLREGs convention on maritime safety and navigation. Explore the historical context and importance of standardized regulations in the maritime industry.