Navigation Rules Of the Road Rule 20-32
Rules Of the Road
1Introduction The rules of the road(IRPCS-International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea) is the guidance for all vessels. It contain rules required for a vessel to safely navigate. It has 38 rules and 4 annexes. The lights and shapes are very important and are used during night time, restricted visibility and in day time respectively. Rules regarding lights and shapes are covered in rule 20 to 31, which is part B of the ROR.
3Part B Lights and ShapesRules 20-31
The breakdown of Rules 21-31 are as follows
Rule #21 Definitions(definitions of masthead lights, side light, allround light)
Rule #22 Visibility of Lights(arc of visibility of lights)
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Rule #23 Power Driven Vessels Underway
Rule #24 Towing and Pushing
Rule #25 Sailing Vessels
Rule #26 Fishing Vessels
Rule #27 Vessels not under command / restricted in ability to maneuverRule #28 Vessels constrained by draft
Rule #29 Pilot vessels
Rule #30 Vessels aground/at anchor
Rule #31 Seaplanes and WIG Craft
Purpose of Lights and Day shapesDetermine the kinds of the vessels
Determine the classes of the vessels
Determine the motion of the vessels
Determine stand on/give way status.
Determination of target angle and course.
Rule 20Rules in this part shall be compiled within all weathers and must display the proper lights from sunset to sunrise (night time) and in situation where there is limited visibility(restricted visibility). And the shapes must be display during sunrise to sunset(day time).
Rule 21Masthead LightThe 'masthead light' is a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing with an arc of 225 degrees.
SidelightsSidelights are red (port side) and green (starboard side) lights than shine in an arc of 112.5 degrees from straight ahead to a point 22.5 degrees abaft the beam.
Rule 21Stern LightThe stern light is a white light placed as near as is practicable at the stern. The light shines in an arc of 135 degrees
Rule 21Towing LightThe towing light is a yellow light placed as near as is practicable at the stern. The light shine in an arc of 135 degrees.
Rule 21All-round LightThe all-round light (such as the white anchor light) shines in an arc of 360 degrees.
Rule 21
All Round FLASHING LightRule 21Flashing Light"Flashing light" means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more per minute.
Rule 22: Visibility of LightsLIGHT COLOR ARC 50M+ 12-50M 12M-Masthead white 2256 nm 5(3) nm 2nmSidelight red/green 112.5 3 nm 2 nm 1nmStern light white 1353 nm 2 nm 2nmTowing yellow 135 3 nm 2 nm 2nmAll around various 360 3 nm 2 nm 2nmFlashing yellow/blue 3603 nm 2 nm 2nm
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RULE 23Power-driven Vessels Underway
22Power-driven vessel 50 meters or more in length underway shall exhibit 2 masthead lights Side lightsStern light
23
Power-driven vessel less than 50 meters in length underway shall exhibit 1 masthead lightSide lightsStern light
24Rule 24 Towing & Pushing Vessel
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Power-driven vessel towing astern - towing vessel less than 50 meters in length; length of tow exceeds 200 meters shall exhibit 3 masthead lights Side lightsTowing lightStern light1 Diamond shape in Daytime
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Vessel or object being towed - length of tow exceeds 200 meters shall exhibitSide lightsStern lightA Diamond Shape in day time27Rule 25 Sailing Vessel28
A sailing vessel underway Two all-round lights (upper red and lower green) sidelights and a stern light
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No.1 Sailing vessel underway (side lights, stern light)
No.2 Sailing vessel underway less than 20 m.(combined side lights, stern light)
No.3 Vessel under oars (lantern) 1232930Rule 26 Fishing Vessel
31
Vessel less than 50 meters in length engaged in trawling making way shall exhibit-2 allround light(green over white),side lights, stern light.Vessel less than 50 meters in length engaged in trawling not making way shall exhibit-2allround light(green over white) 2 conical shape apex together32
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Vessel 50 meters or more in length engaged in trawling not making way Vessel 50 meters or more in length engaged in trawling making wayshall exhibit a additional masthead light with the lights prescribed before in this rule34
Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling not making way shall exhibit2 allround light(red over white)Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling making way shall exhibit-2 allround light(red over white)Side lightsStern lights
2 conical shape apex together35
36For either of the above, where there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, display an all-round white light or a cone apex upward in the direction of the gear.
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Rule 27 Vessel Not Under Command/vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
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Vessel not under command making way shall exhibit2 allround red lightSidelightsStern lightVessel not under command not making way shall exhibit2 allround red lights2 black balls in day time40
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Vessel less than 50 meters restricted in ability to maneuver - making way shall exhibit3 allround light in a sequence of red-white-redSidelightsstern lightVessel less than 164 feet (50 meters) restricted in ability to maneuver - at anchor Two balls with a diamond in the middle42
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Vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations - restricted in ability to maneuver - making way with an obstruction on the starboard sideVessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations - restricted in ability to maneuver - not making way with an obstruction on the starboard side44Rule 28 Vessel Constrained by draft45
Vessel constrained by its draft shall exhibit 3 red lights in a vertical lineMasthead lightsSidelightsStern light
A cylinder in day time46
47Rule 29 Pilot Vessel48
Vessel engaged in pilotage duty underway shall exhibit 2 all round lights(white over red)SidelightsStern lightVessel less than 50 meters engaged in pilotage duty - at anchor49
50Rule 30 Vessel at Anchor or Aground51
Vessel less than 50 meters at anchor shall exhibitA all-round white lightVessel at anchor with deck illumination - required for vessels 100 meters or more in length shall exhibit2 all round white light( one at the forward & one at the aft)A ball in day time52
Vessel 50 meters or more in length - aground shall exhibit2 all-round red lights2 masthead lights(forward & aft)
Vessel less than 50 meters in length aground shall exhibit2 all-round red lightsA masthead light3 ball in day time53
54Easy Way to Remember55
Vessel 50 meters or more in length aground shall exhibit2 all-round red lights2 all round white light(fore & aft)Vessel less than 50 meters in length aground shall exhibit2 all-round red lightA all round white light3 ball in day time
56THANK YOULights must adhere to the standards listed in the following chart: