Colregs duty "working & purpose" lights QUIZ www.coastalsafety.com
Invest a few minutes at least to learn some of the basic rules - ignorance is NOT bliss.
Ships and boats ie "vessels" show addition lights to the normal navigational lights when they have "additional duties" and they require your assistance as they carry out their duties. When they are "restricted" due to their duties they show additional lights (and shapes) to show you what they are doing.
This video "simplifies" a way to learn about these additional lights.
Always consul the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS) for full details and requirements.
IRPCS - International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 ofet known as COLREGs are published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and set out, among other things, the "rules of the road" or navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea to prevent collisions between two or more vessels.
COLREGs can also refer to the specific political line that divides inland waterways, which are subject to their own navigation rules, and coastal waterways which are subject to international navigation rules. The COLREGs are derived from a multilateral treaty called the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Continental Europe also has the Code Européen des Voies de la Navigation Intérieure (CEVNI). United States has rules for vessels navigating inland waters.
Racing Rules of Sailing, which govern the conduct of yacht and dinghy racing under the sanction of national sailing authorities which are members of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), are based on the COLREGs, but differ in some important matters such as overtaking and actually stipulate "right of way" close to turning marks in competitive sailing. It should be noted that in the IRPCS "right of way" is NOT stipulated and EVERY VESSEL has a duty.
