What is the scope of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea?

The Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) is an international treaty with the goal of preventing maritime collisions and it is applicable in all oceans and waters under the jurisdiction of member countries. Under the scope of the COLREGs, all vessels, regardless of size, are required to comply with the regulations that apply to navigation and sailing in order to prevent collisions and to promote the safety of all vessels navigating in the seas. In Minnesota, the COLREGs are incorporated into state maritime law and taken into consideration when resolving maritime disputes in the state. Also, state laws must comply with the COLREGs and if there is any conflict between a state law and the COLREGs, the COLREGs will take precedence. The scope of the COLREGs is wide and many of its regulations apply to all vessels regardless of their size or location. Some of these regulations include the navigation lights that vessels must display at night, the rules of the road which provide guidelines as to how vessels should maneuver in different situations, and the requirement for vessels to give signals to indicate their intention to navigate in certain directions. Moreover, the COLREGs also require vessels to maintain a proper lookout at all times and to take action to avoid colliding with other vessels. The COLREGs may also be modified through additional agreements between member countries. In Minnesota, ships must be operated in a reasonable manner and must observe all applicable COLREGs. In addition, mariners must be properly licensed and vessel operators must be familiar with the COLREGs in order to safely operate their vessels.

What is the scope of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea?

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