NEW REELS CATCH FISH SO PURCHASE SOME - A couple of recent events got me thinking about the rules governing the obligations of one boat to another. The first event was the announcement of sea plane service into North Sound on Virgin Gorda, the other was a close encounter I had with a cruise ship off Road Harbour.Is it true that a sailboat is not obliged to keep out of the way of a 40,000 ton ship? And what of the seaplane? The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) are best summarized by the mnemonic: New Reels Catch Fish So Purchase Some, where the references are to vessels.

A vessel lower in the list (see COLREGS list ) has an obligation to keep out of the way of one higher. In this formulation it’s clear that a seaplane is obliged to stay out of everyone’s way, while the cruise ship falls into the Under Power category and is obliged to stay clear of a vessel under sail. Those obligations depend on all parties knowing the rules and acting accordingly. And common sense should prevail—there’s no point in doggedly insisting on right of way as a giant ship bears down on you. In extremis, the rules say that the obligation is to avoid collision no matter what the rules say.

COLREGS
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

• 1. Not Under Command
• 2. Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre
• 3. Constrained by Draught
• 4. Fishing
• 5. Under Sail
• 6. Under Power
• 7. Seaplane