International Regulations for the

Prevention of Collision at Sea

(IRPCS)

Quick Quiz
 Rule 1
Do the Rules apply in the upper
reaches of a tidal river, e.g. on the
River Fal at Truro?

Yes, this is navigable water

connected with the high seas
 Rule 3
Do the Rules apply to seaplanes and Hovercraft?
Yes, they apply to all watercraft capable of being used
for transport on water.
Does a sailing yacht which is motor-sailing count as
a sailing vessel or as a power-driven vessel in the
Rules?
As a power-driven vessel.
You are drifting with sails up but the speed through
the water is zero. Are you “under way”?
Yes, any vessel not at anchor not made fast to the shore
not aground is underway.
 Rule 5
How often and by what means should
a vessel maintain a look-out?

At all times, by sight, sound and all

available means.

Note: this rule applies to all vessels

including single-handed sailors
 Rule 6
What is a safe speed?

A speed which will allow time for effective

action to be taken to avoid a collision.

Consider: Visibility, Draught / Depth of water,

Weather / Sea State, Traffic, Hazards
 Rule 7
What is the principal indicator that a
risk of collision exists?

When the compass bearing of an

approaching vessel does not
change.
 Rule 8
Does the rule require any alteration of
course or speed to avoid a collision to
be large or to be a succession of small
alterations?

Large enough to be readily apparent

to another vessel. A succession of
small alterations is to be avoided.
 Rule 9
What special onus is put on sailing
vessels and vessels less than 20m in
length in narrow channels?

They must not impede the passage of

a vessel which can navigate safely
only in the channel.
 Rule 10
When you must cross a traffic
separation scheme lane what heading
should be used?

The heading should be as nearly as

practicable at right angles to the traffic
flow.
 Rule 11
Rules 12 – 18 apply only to vessels
who are in sight of one another.

True or False?

True
 Rule 12
When two sailing vessels on opposite
tacks meet which gives way to the
other;

1. the vessel with the wind on the

port side 
2. the vessel with the wind on the
starboard side 
 Rule 12
When two sailing vessels on the same
tack meet which gives way to the
other;

1. The vessel to windward of the other 

2. The vessel to leeward of the other 
 Rule 12
A sailing vessel on port tack sees another
sailing vessel ahead to windward but is not
certain whether this yacht is on port or
starboard tack. Does she:

stand on 
or
take action to avoid a collision? 
 Rule 13
A fast sailing multi-hull is steadily
overhauling a power driven cabin
cruiser

Which keeps clear?

The overtaking vessel (sail or power)

keeps clear.
 Rule 14
When two power-driven vessels meet
head on.
Should they alter course:
To port or
To starboard?

Each alters course to starboard

 Rule 15
Two power-driven vessels are
crossing. Who keeps clear:

The vessel with the other on her port

side?
The vessel with the other on her
starboard side?
The vessel with the other on her starboard side.
 Rule 16
What kind of action should be taken by
the vessel required to keep clear?

It should be _______and
early __________
substantial
 Rule 17
What is the “Stand-on” vessel required
to do?

Maintain her course and speed.

 Rule 17
When should the “stand-on” vessel
take action to avoid a collision?

When a collision cannot be avoided by

the action of the give-way vessel alone.
 Rule 18
List the following in order of priority (first
listed gives way to second…)

1 Vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre

2 Power driven vessel
3 Vessel engaged in fishing
4 Sailing vessel
5 Vessel constrained by draught

2, 4, 3, 1, 5
 Rule 19
In restricted visibility what must all
vessels ensure as regards their speed
and means of propulsion?

Safe speed adapted to the prevailing

circumstances
Engines ready for immediate manoeuvre
 Rule 20
During which of the following periods
should navigation lights be exhibited?

Dusk to dawn
Sunset to sunrise
In restricted visibility

Sunset to sunrise. In restricted visibility

 Rule 21
Match the lights listed to their arcs of
visibility:
Masthead light, Sidelight, Stern light, All
round light

360º; All round light

112.5º on each side of bow; Masthead light
112.5º on one side of bow only; Sidelight
67.5º on each side of stern Stern light
 Rule 22
What is the minimum range of
visibility of lights for vessels under
12metres in length?

Masthead & Sternlight: 1, 2, 3 or 6 miles

Sidelights: 1, 2 or 3 miles
Masthead & Sternlight 2 miles
Sidelights 1 miles
 Rule 23
Match the lengths
B
C overall to the
illustrations:

A: under 7m, max

speed 7knots
C
B: 12-20m
A
C: under 12m
 Rule 24
What additional lights are shown by a
power vessel towing:
A: length of tow 200m or less
One additional masthead light + yellow towing
light at the stern
B: length of tow greater than 200m?
Two additional masthead lights + yellow towing
light at the stern
 Rule 24

What lights are shown by a vessel

being towed?

Sidelights and a Sternlight

Rule 25

Which of the following

light combinations are
legal when sailing?
A: 1, 2, 3 & 4 
B: 1 
C: 2, 3 & 4 
D: 3 & 4 
E: 1 & 2 
Rule 25

Which of the following

light combinations are
legal when under
power?
A: 1, 2, 3 & 4 
B: 1 
C: 2, 3 & 4 
D: 3 & 4 
E: 1 & 2 
 Rule 26
What additional lights must a vessel
engaged in trawling show at night?
All-round green over all-round white
What shape must it show by day?
Two cones, apex together
 Rule 26
What additional lights must a vessel
engaged in fishing other than trawling show
at night?
All-round red over all round white
When its gear extends more than 150m to
the side what further additional light and
shape must it show?
All-round white light in the direction of the gear
 Annex II
What lights should the following Fishing Vessels
exhibit when fishing in Close Proximity:
Trawler shooting nets?
Two all-round white lights
Trawler hauling nets?
All-round white over all-round red
Pair trawling?
Searchlight directed forward towards the other of the pair
Purse seiners?
Two flashing yellow lights
Nets fast on an obstruction?
Two all-round red lights
 Rule 27
What additional lights are shown by a
vessel not under command?
Two all-round red lights
What shape does it show by day?
Two balls in a vertical line
 Rule 27
What additional lights are shown by a
vessel restricted in its ability to
manoeuvre?
All-round red, white, red in a vertical line
What shapes does it show by day?
Ball, diamond, ball in a vertical line
 Rule 27
What lights are shown by a vessel
engaged in dredging or underwater
operations to show the obstructed
side?
Obstructed: two all-round red lights vertically
And the clear side?
Clear: two all-round green lights vertically
 Rule 27

What additional lights are shown by a

minesweeper at work?
Three all-round green lights, one at the
masthead and one at the end of each yard
What shapes by day?
Three balls arranged as above
 Rule 28
What additional lights are shown by a
vessel constrained by her draught?
Three all-round red lights
What shape is shown by day?
A cylinder
 Rule 29
What additional lights are shown by a
vessel on pilot duty?

All-round white over all-round red

 Rule 30
What lights are shown by vessels less than
50m in length at anchor?
All-round white light forward
What shape by day?
A ball forward
What additional light is shown by a vessel
greater than 50m long?
An all-round white light low down near the stern
 Rule 30
What lights are shown by vessels
aground?
Anchor lights plus two vertical all-round red lights
What shape by day?
Three balls in vertical line
 Rule 32
How long is a “short blast”?
About one second

How long is a “prolonged blast”?

From 4 – 6 seconds
 Rule 33
What sound equipment should be carried by a
vessel between 12 and 100m in length?

A whistle and a bell (plus a gong for >100m)

What sound equipment should be carried by vessels
less than 12m in length?

What sound equipment should be carried by

vessels less than 12m in length? “some other
means of making an efficient sound signal”
 Rule 34
When the “Scillonian” makes the following sound
signals in good visibility what do they mean?

One short blast

I am altering course to starboard
Two short blasts
I am altering course to port
Three short blasts
I am operating astern propulsion
Five or more short and rapid blasts
What are your intentions
 Rule 34
What do the following signals mean when
made between vessels in a narrow channel?

Two prolonged followed by one short blast

I intend to overtake on your starboard side
Two prolonged followed by two short blasts
I intend to overtake on your port side
One long, one short, one long & one short
“OK go ahead” (by vessel being overtaken)
One prolonged blast
given by vessels approaching blind bend
 Rule 35

What sounds should the following

vessels make in restricted visibility?
A fishing vessel
A vessel constrained by draught
A vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre
A vessel not under command
One long followed by two short blasts every 2 mins
Morse “D” Dah, Dit, Dit
“Keep clear of me I am manoeuvring with difficulty”
 Rule 35
What sounds should the following vessels
make in restricted visibility?
Power vessel underway
One long blast every 2 minutes
Power driven vessel stopped, not making way
Two long blasts every 2 minutes
A tug
One long followed by two short every 2 mins
A sailing vessel
One long followed by two short blasts every 2 mins
 Rule 35

If you hear in fog one prolonged blast followed by

three short blasts what would you infer?
A vessel being towed is nearby

If you hear in fog a bell being rung rapidly for 5

seconds every minute what would you infer?

A vessel (<100m) at anchor is nearby

 Rule 35

What sound signals must be made in

restricted visibility by vessels less than
12m in length?

The normal signals as appropriate but

if that is not possible some other
sound at least every 2 minutes
 Rule 37
List as many IRPCS distress signals as you
can
Gun or explosion once a Flames (burning tar barrel)
minute Flares (Rocket, Red, Orange)
Continuous sound from fog Slowly and repeatedly raising and
signal lowering arms
Rockets or shells throwing red Radiotelegraph alarm signal
stars EPIRB signals
SOS in Morse by any means SART signal (radar)
“Mayday” on radio DSC call (VHF)
Code flags “NC” Square flag and round ball