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COLREGs
Cheat Sheets
Twelve printable quick-reference sheets that distil the Collision Regulations, IALA buoyage and distress signals down to the essentials you need the night before an OOW oral. No sign-up, no payment — just download.
Built for the night before the oral
The Steering and Sailing Rules are the single highest-yield section of any Officer of the Watch oral — and the hardest to hold in your head under examiner pressure. These sheets strip each rule back to the line that matters: who gives way, who stands on, what action to take, and the traps examiners love.
Pull them up on your phone, print them for the bunk, or run through them as a final pass before you walk in. They are free for any cadet, deck officer, or instructor to download, print, and share.
The twelve sheets
Each is a single-page, A4 quick-reference distilled from the COLREGs, IALA buoyage and distress-signal regulations.
01 · Part A & Part B Section I
Rules 1–10: Application, Conduct & Steering
The foundational ten — scope, definitions, look-out, safe speed, risk of collision, and the conduct rules that apply in any condition of visibility.
02 · Part B Section II
Rules 11–18: Overtaking, Crossing & the Pecking Order
Conduct in sight of one another — the eight rules that decide who gives way, who stands on, and who outranks whom. The highest-yield section of any oral.
03 · Part B Section III
Rule 19: Conduct in Restricted Visibility
The rule that takes over the moment you lose sight of the other vessel — safe speed, ample-time action, and the two alterations of course you must avoid.
04 · Part C — Lights & Shapes
Lights & Shapes I: Power-Driven & Towing (Rules 20–24)
When lights and shapes apply, the arcs and visibility ranges, and the night signature of power-driven, towing and pushing vessels.
05 · Part C — Lights & Shapes
Lights & Shapes II: Sailing, Fishing & Restricted (Rules 25–27)
Sailing craft, vessels engaged in fishing, and those not under command or restricted in their ability to manoeuvre — the lights that change who gives way.
06 · Part C + Annex I
Lights & Shapes III: Anchored, Aground & Special Cases (Rules 28–31)
Constrained by draught, pilot vessels, vessels at anchor or aground, seaplanes and WIG craft — plus the Annex I positioning detail.
07 · Part D — Sound & Light Signals
Sound Signals I: Manoeuvring & Warning (Rules 32–34)
The whistle signals you give in sight of one another — altering course, overtaking in a narrow channel, blind bends, and the doubt signal.
08 · Part D + Annex IV
Sound Signals II: Restricted Visibility & Distress (Rules 35–37)
The fog signals every vessel must know cold, the signal to attract attention, and the recognised distress signals from Annex IV.
09 · IALA Buoyage
IALA Buoyage I: Lateral Marks, Regions A & B
The marks that line a channel — and the one fact that flips between Region A and Region B: which side is red.
10 · IALA Buoyage
IALA Buoyage II: Cardinal & Other Marks
The marks that are identical worldwide — cardinals, isolated danger, safe water, special and the emergency wreck mark.
11 · Night Recognition
Light Recognition at Night: What You See
Read the picture, name the vessel and her aspect, then state your action — a rapid-fire drill that ties the light rules together.
12 · Annex IV + GMDSS
Distress & Emergency Signals
The Annex IV distress signals, modern GMDSS alerts, and the radio and life-saving signals every watchkeeper must know on sight.
How to use them
Print & pin
A4, designed to print clean in black and white. Pin one above the chart table or keep it in your oral-prep folder.
Quiz yourself
Cover the right-hand column and recite the action for each rule from memory. If you can't, that's tonight's revision.
Pair with the app
The OOW Bible drills every rule with interactive scenarios, light and shape recognition, and an AI oral examiner that grades your answers.
These cheat sheets are a study aid and a simplified summary. Always refer to the full text of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs 1972, as amended), the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, official charts, and current MCA / IMO / GMDSS publications for authoritative guidance.
Want the full picture?
These sheets are a primer. The OOW Bible app takes you from quick reference to exam-ready — every COLREGs rule, interactive scenarios, and a Claude-powered oral examiner.