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Most collisions are not accidents of fate but failures to apply rules every officer is supposed to know cold. This is the law of the sea made practical: the COLREGs and right of way, SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW, and the flag and port state regimes that decide whether your ship sails or stays alongside.

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Rules & Regulations

COLREGs: The Rules of the Road at Sea

No lanes, no traffic lights, just one ruleset that decides who gives way and who holds course. A working guide to the COLREGs and the judgment behind them.

15m read · Updated 24 Jul 2026
Two ships on converging courses at dusk, illustrating COLREGs collision avoidance at sea.

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