Anyone taking the Sportbootführerschein See (the German coastal recreational boating license, SBF Coastal) will sooner or later run into three letters: KVR. The Kollisionsverhütungsregeln, known internationally as the COLREGs, are the rulebook that decides at sea who gives way, which lights a vessel shows, and what a particular sound signal means. Many individual topics of the theory exam come straight from them. This overview shows you how the COLREGs are structured, where they apply, and which rules you really need to know, with links to our detailed articles on each area.

What Are the COLREGs?

The KVR are the German version of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, internationally called the COLREGs (Collision Regulations). They were agreed at the level of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and therefore apply worldwide according to the same principles. That is their big advantage: a skipper from Denmark, a freighter from Asia, and you on your recreational boat all follow the same rules at sea.

The goal of the COLREGs is simple: prevent collisions. To do this, they set out how vessels give way to each other, how you recognize them by day and night, and how they communicate using signals.

Where Do the COLREGs Apply?

Under Rule 1, the COLREGs apply to all vessels on the high seas and in all waters connected to them that are navigable by seagoing vessels. Special rules made by the competent authorities for roadsteads, harbors, rivers, lakes, or inland waterways connected to the high seas remain unaffected.

For Germany, one point is particularly important: on the maritime waterways (Seeschifffahrtsstraßen), the COLREGs also apply, but only insofar as the German maritime waterways regulations (SeeSchStrO) do not specify otherwise. The SeeSchStrO can therefore contain its own, overriding rules for particular stretches. On inland waterways, by contrast, the COLREGs do not apply; there the inland waterways regulations (BinSchStrO) are decisive. For where you are allowed to go with which license, see our page on the SBF Coastal.

How the COLREGs Are Structured

The COLREGs comprise 41 rules in six parts plus four annexes:

  • Part A – General (Rules 1 to 3): application, responsibility, and definitions.
  • Part B – Steering and Sailing Rules (Rules 4 to 19): the core, divided into three sections: conduct in any condition of visibility (Rules 4 to 10), conduct of vessels in sight of one another (Rules 11 to 18), and conduct in restricted visibility (Rule 19).
  • Part C – Lights and Shapes (Rules 20 to 31).
  • Part D – Sound and Light Signals (Rules 32 to 37).
  • Part E – Exemptions (Rule 38).
  • Part F – Verification of Compliance with the Convention (Rules 39 to 41).

Annexes I to IV contain technical details on lights and sound signal equipment, additional signals for fishing vessels fishing in close proximity, and the distress signals (Annex IV). For recreational boaters, Parts A to D are the relevant ones.

Part A: Responsibility and Good Seamanship

Rule 2 is short but fundamental: the rules do not relieve anyone of responsibility for consequences arising from neglecting good seamanship. At the same time, departing from the rules is permitted when necessary to avoid immediate danger. So the COLREGs are not a rigid right-of-way system; they always require anticipatory thinking.

Part B, Section I: Duties in Any Visibility

These rules always apply, whether in clear visibility or fog:

  • Rule 5 – Lookout: every vessel must maintain a proper lookout at all times, by sight and hearing and by all available means.
  • Rule 6 – Safe speed: always proceed at a speed that lets you take proper avoiding action or stop within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances.
  • Rule 7 – Risk of collision: a classic warning sign is a steady bearing with decreasing range. How to recognize it is shown in our article on bearing and collision course.
  • Rule 8 – Action to avoid collision: avoiding action must be taken in good time, be clearly recognizable, and be large enough for the other vessel to notice.
  • Rule 9 – Narrow channels: keep as far to the starboard side as practicable. Vessels under 20 meters in length and sailing vessels must not impede vessels that can navigate safely only within the channel.
  • Rule 10 – Traffic separation schemes: the “highways at sea,” explained in detail in traffic separation schemes at sea.

Part B, Section II: Who Gives Way?

Rules 11 to 18 apply only when vessels are in sight of one another. They come up especially often in the exam:

  • Rule 12 – Sailing vessels: if the two have the wind on different sides, the vessel with the wind on the port side keeps out of the way. If both have the wind on the same side, the windward vessel keeps out of the way of the leeward one.
  • Rule 13 – Overtaking: the overtaking vessel must always keep out of the way, even a sailing vessel overtaking a power-driven vessel.
  • Rule 14 – Head-on situation: when two power-driven vessels meet on reciprocal courses, both alter to starboard.
  • Rule 15 – Crossing situation: between two power-driven vessels, the one that has the other on its starboard side keeps out of the way.
  • Rules 16 and 17: the give-way vessel acts early and substantially. The stand-on vessel keeps its course and speed. It may, however, act itself as soon as it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action under the rules, and it must act when a collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone.
  • Rule 18 – Responsibilities between vessels: the order of who gives way to whom. A power-driven vessel keeps out of the way of, among others, vessels not under command, vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver, vessels engaged in fishing, and sailing vessels. In addition, any vessel other than one not under command or restricted in its ability to maneuver must, if the circumstances permit, avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft showing the signals in Rule 28.

Details with examples are in our article on right of way and collision rules.

Part B, Section III: Restricted Visibility

In fog or heavy rain, when vessels cannot see each other, the give-way rules of Section II do not apply. Instead Rule 19 applies: a safe speed adapted to visibility, engines ready for immediate maneuver, and sound signals under Part D. How to behave in practice is explained in conduct in restricted visibility and fog.

Parts C and D: Lights, Shapes, and Sound Signals

Part C (Rules 20 to 31) sets out which lights a vessel shows at night and in restricted visibility, and which shapes (ball, cone, cylinder, diamond) it displays by day. This is how you recognize power-driven vessels, sailing vessels, tows, fishing vessels, or vessels at anchor. More in navigation lights explained.

Part D (Rules 32 to 37) governs sound and light signals. These include the maneuvering signals under Rule 34, given by a power-driven vessel underway when vessels are in sight of one another: one short blast for “I am altering my course to starboard,” two short blasts for “to port,” and three short blasts for “I am operating astern propulsion.” Also covered here are sound signals in restricted visibility (Rule 35) and distress signals (Rule 37 with Annex IV). Everything important is in sound signals explained and distress signals at sea.

How to Learn the COLREGs Best

At first glance the COLREGs seem dry, but they are easy to structure:

  1. Start with the basic duties: lookout, safe speed, and good seamanship are the foundation for everything else.
  2. Practice the give-way rules on situations: sketch encounters or use exam images and decide each time who gives way.
  3. Learn lights and shapes in groups: first the basic lights, then the special cases with memory aids.
  4. Count sound signals out loud: short and long blasts stick better when you hear them.

Conclusion

The collision regulations are the international constitution of traffic at sea. They apply on the high seas and connected navigable waters, supplemented on German maritime waterways by the SeeSchStrO. Their structure is logical: Part A covers principles and responsibility, Part B giving way in any visibility, in sight of one another, and in restricted visibility, Part C lights and shapes, and Part D sound and light signals. Once you know this structure, you can quickly place every exam question correctly.

The Boatpass app trains you with the official SBF Coastal exam questions, including all COLREGs topics from the give-way rules to lights and sound signals, in a realistic exam mode and with targeted mistake training.