Orals Revision: ColRegs — Collision Regulations (Master 200/OOW 500 Yacht Route)

Orals revision card — Master (code vessels less than 200 GT)/Officer of the Watch (yachts less than 500 GT) Oral Examination Syllabus, Section 1.4 'International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs)' (MCA, gov.uk, updated 17 June 2026). Small-vessel/yacht route — a different syllabus from the Unlimited CoC track covered elsewhere in this series. The syllabus calls for a thorough knowledge, not a passing familiarity — this is one of the heaviest-tested areas in the oral.

Speed, Lookout & Recognition

• Requirements for proceeding at a safe speed and keeping a proper lookout
• Recognise the lights, shapes and fog signals for every class of vessel, not just the common ones
• Recognise manoeuvring sound signals and light signals — know these are two distinct signal sets, not one

Collision Avoidance in Practice

• Recognise a developing collision situation using compass bearings, radar or visual reference — be ready to talk through all three methods
• State the actions required to avoid collision, both by day and by night
• Describe the precautions required when navigating in or near restricted visibility, including assessing the risk of collision from a radar-only contact and the action required

Special Waters

• Requirements for navigating in or near traffic separation schemes
• Requirements for navigating in narrow channels

Quick Self-Check

• What's the practical difference between a manoeuvring sound signal and a fog signal?
• You detect a developing collision situation by radar alone in restricted visibility — what's your action?
• Give one action to avoid collision that changes between day and night.

Test yourself: ColRegs Knowledge Checks.

Related Reading

• The Jabal Hafit Collision — a real bridge-team ColRegs failure, minute by minute, from first sighting to collision