Navigeringsreglene

Navigeringsreglene, often translated as "rules of navigation" or "colreg" (COLRegs) for "International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea," are a set of international rules designed to prevent collisions between vessels at sea. They are governed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and are an essential part of maritime safety.

The core principle of the navigeringsreglene is to establish a framework for how vessels should interact to avoid accidents. This includes defining the responsibilities of each vessel, especially in situations where there is a risk of collision. The rules cover various aspects of navigation, such as lights and shapes that vessels must display to indicate their status and intentions, sound and light signals, and steering and sailing rules.

One of the most critical aspects of the navigeringsreglene is the concept of "give-way" and "stand-on" vessels. The give-way vessel is required to take positive action to keep well clear of the stand-on vessel, which must maintain its course and speed. The rules specify which vessel has the give-way responsibility in different scenarios, such as when two power-driven vessels are approaching each other head-on, crossing paths, or when a power-driven vessel is overtaking a sailing vessel.

In addition to steering and sailing rules, the navigeringsreglene also address situations involving restricted visibility, such as fog, and specify actions to be taken to avoid collisions. These rules are crucial for all mariners, from professional seafarers on large commercial ships to recreational boaters, and understanding and adhering to them is fundamental to safe navigation.