ItoRO no. 34 - the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

Legend / Explanation of abbreviations:

• Annex I to COLREG: Positioning and technical details of lights and shapes

• Circ.: Circular

• COLREG: the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended

• ItoS: Information to Shipping

• MED: Marine Equipment Directive (DIRECTIVE 2014/90/EU)

• MSC: Maritime Safety Committee

• NSI: the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate

• RO: Recognised Organisation

1 Introduction

The instructions contained within this document are not in themselves statutory, but they draw attention to the principal legislation on navigation lights, shapes, sound- and light signals and provide guidance on how the requirements of this legislation may be met. They also provide recommendations which are made in the light of previous experience both within the NSI or its ROs as well as the wider maritime industry.

The requirements are contained in the COLREG. The applicability of the COLREG has been implemented in national law by means of Besluit toepassingverklaring Internationale Bepalingen ter voorkoming van aanvaringen op zee, 1972; as well as the principal statutory requirements relating to lights and signals are contained in Schepenwet Artikel 4.d. & the Schepenbesluit 2004, Artikel 45.1.

These instructions have been issued by the NSI for the guidance of RO surveyors whilst assessing the layout of vessels' navigation lights, sound signals and light signals. They also provide guidance to ROs concerning the requirements to be met so as to comply with the various statutory provisions relating to these items and to satisfy the conditions for the approval of the layout of navigation lights and sound signals intended for use at sea.

Terms and definitions used in this document are in line with those used in the COLREG.

Reference is made to 'ItoS - the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea', mentioning additional information and interpretation regarding the COLREG requirements to ships under the Dutch flag. The ItoS shall be checked and followed by the ROs (e.g. for survey purposes).

2 Navigation lights - general

2.1 Layout and MED

The layout of navigation lights on board a vessel are laid down in the COLREG, principally in Annex I, which should be read in conjunction with Rule 21.

On all Netherlands flagged vessels, the navigation lights must be type approved in accordance with MED standards. Lights which are not MED approved, shall not be placed.

2.2 Approval of navigation light arrangement

With regard to Section 14 of Annex I to COLREG, only navigation lights prescribed in the COLREG and which are relevant for a vessel's operational purpose shall be (installed and) approved on behalf of the Government of the Netherlands.

Approved navigation lights drawings shall fully reflect the actual situation on the vessel; no futurized approvals for (not yet installed) navigation lights shall be carried out by the RO on behalf of the NSI.

3 Fitting of Navigation lights

3.1 Safe Access

With regard to Annex I to COLREG, the NSI requires the RO to verify:

1. at an early stage of the ship design and ship building process that adequate safety measures (e.g. hand holds, foot rests, hoop rails and positions for securing safety harness and lifelines) are being provided for, to allow for safe access to the navigation lights in order to inspect, repair or replace navigation lights; and

2. during the relevant annual and renewal survey that the safety measures (e.g. hand holds, foot rests, hoop rails and positions for securing safety harness and lifelines) that have been installed and remain adequate to allow for safe access to the navigation lights in order to inspect, repair or replace navigation lights.

3.2 Screening

With regard to Section 5 of Annex I to COLREG, and the requirement for sidelights (except for a combined lantern using a single vertical filament and a very narrow division between the green and red Sections) to be fitted with inboard matt black screens, the NSI requires the RO in consultation with the ship designer and ship builder:

1. to determine the dimensions of the inboard matt black screens and the necessity of a chock to be fitted, in order to ensure that every inboard matt black screen fulfills its two purposes, i.e. preventing undesirable light on board the vessel and aiding compliance with the horizontal sector requirements; and

2. for vessels with sidelights positioned on the forward part of the vessel, to consider the necessity of calculating the limits within which the sidelights should be visible when viewed from the extended centre line ahead of the vessel.

3.3 Duplication of navigation lights

In order that lights can be exhibited continuously as required by the COLREG, the RO shall ensure that lamps of navigation lights, installed on a vessel of less than 50 meters in length, can be efficiently and readily replaced within 30 minutes, in case the navigation lights are not duplicated or not fitted with duplicate lamps.

4 Exemptions and deviations

4.1 Permanent exemptions

Reference is made to paragraph 4.2 of this Instruction were situations are elaborated whereby an exemption is not required to be issued. For all other positioning of navigational lights under COLREG, not in compliance with the (Annex I to) COLREG, exemptions are required to be issued.

4.1.1 General

With regard to COLREG Rule 1(e), for a vessel of special construction or purpose, the NSI allows for an exemption to be issued by the RO, provided that the RO:

1. determine to what extend the vessel cannot fully comply with the provisions of any of COLREG Rules with respect to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights on the vessel, by means of (at least) a documented assessment;

2. propose an alternative number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights, by means of a document (e.g. drawing):

   1. taking into account the deviations in the positioning and technical details of lights the NSI allows for; and

   2. which is the closest possible compliance the COLREG Rules in respect of that vessel;

3. in accordance with ItoRO no. 15 - Reporting and procedure for non-compliance, submitted to the NSI a well-founded proposal for a (temporary) exemption, including a copy of the documented assessment and a copy of the proposed alternative (drawing); and

4. informed the NSI of all reasonable efforts for the closest possible compliance with the COLREG Rules in respect of the vessel, for the NSI to determine as to whether the proposed alternative layout of the navigation lights is the closest possible compliance the COLREG Rules in respect of that vessel.

4.1.2 Masthead light

4.1.2.1 Horizontal distance between masthead lights

In case the horizontal distance between the two masthead lights cannot be in compliance with Section 3(a) of the Annex I to COLREG (e.g. in case the accommodation is situated forward of the midship), the distance between the two masthead lights shall be as large as possible.

4.1.2.2 Masthead light(s) in the fore and aft centerline

In case, due to the construction and/or the operational activities of the vessel (e.g. work vessel / multicat), it is not possible to position the masthead light in the ship's fore and aft centerline, the following layout (including the other relevant navigational lights) is allowed:

4.1.2.3 Obstruction(s) for aft masthead light

With reference to COLREG Rule 23, in case obstructions (such as wind assisted propulsion systems or other permanent equipment) are placed on board a vessel equipped with a masthead light foreward ánd a second masthead light abaft (aft masthead light), with regards to the masthead light aft the following requirements shall be met:

1. In principle fully in compliance with COLREG Rule 21(a); The masthead light aft shall not be obscured from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel under all conditions of draught, trim and deck cargo;

2. Only in case option 1. is not possible (and under the condition that the forward masthead light is not obscured and is visible under all circumstances for the required horizontal sector), for the vessels' masthead light aft the following applies:

   1. No blind sector caused by cargo, cargo gear or other obstructions in the sector of visibility of the masthead light, shall exceed 5 degrees;

   2. The total arc of blind sectors of the masthead light shall not exceed 10 degrees;

   3. The clear sectors between blind sectors shall be at least 5 degrees; and

   4. Both sidelights are to be positioned on the vessel in such a way that they are always visible for other traffic. In this respect their lay-out shall comply with COLREG Rule 21(b).

In case the above is confirmed, a well-founded proposal shall be submitted to the NSI.

4.1.2.4 Vessels with a design similar to a high-speed craft

In case of a vessel:

1. with a design similar to a high-speed craft; but

2. not certified as a high-speed craft in accordance with the with the HSC-1994 or the HSC-2000,

Section 13 of the Annex I to the COLREG may be applied to the masthead light, provided that:

• the masthead light is placed at a height of not less than 6 meters above the hull; and

• in case of newbuilding, any request for an exemption is made well in advance of the keel laying date.

4.1.3 Sidelights

In case the sidelights are to be positioned not in line with MSC.1/Circ.1260/Rev.1 (i.e. more than 10% of the breath of the vessel, up to maximum 1 metre inboard), an exemption is required.

4.2 Other deviations

4.2.1 Stern- and towing lights

With regard to paragraph (c) and (d) of COLREG Rule 21, in case a sternlight and towing light is placed as nearly as practicable at the stern f the vessel, taking into account the nature of their operations (especially towing vessels and mulicats), no exemption is required.

4.2.2 All-round lights

Exemption from Section 9(b) of Annex I to COLREG, also for anchor lights, is not acceptable in cases where compliance can be achieved by minor modifications (such as the fitting of a spar to carry the lights clear of obstructions or by the provision of a combination of lights on each side of such obstruction). In other situations a well-founded proposal is to be submitted to the NSI.

• Informatietype: Informatie voor uitvoering
• Documentsoort: Werkinstructie
• Toegangsrechten: Extern
• Identificatie: PUC_787070_14
• Versie: 1
• Datum beschikbaarheid: 25-02-2025
• Geldigheid van: 25-02-2025
• Wijzigingsdatum: 25-02-2025
• Titel: ItoRO no. 34 - the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
• Organisatie: Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport
• Taal: Engels
• Onderwerp: Veiligheid / Safety; Erkende organisaties / Recognised Organisations
• Hoofdtaak: Koopvaardij / Merchant Shipping
• Thema: Zeevaart / Seagoing ships / Instructions to ROs / National Instruments (Instructions) / National Instructions