Cult of Sea

Maritime Knowledge base

  • Home
  • Knowledge base
    • Bridge Equipment
    • Cargo Work
    • Deck
    • General
    • Gmdss
    • Maritime Law
    • Marpol
    • MLC 2006
    • Meteorology
    • Navigation
    • Safety
    • Security
    • Ship Construction
    • Ship Handling
    • Ship Stability
    • Shippie’s Escape
    • Surveys
    • Tankers
  • Colreg’s (ROR)
    • Index (Colreg’s)
    • Part A- General
      • Rule 1 – Application
      • Rule 2 – Responsibility
      • Rule 3 – General Definitions
    • Part B- Steering and Sailing
      • Section 1 (Rule 4 -10)
        • Rule 4 – Application
        • Rule 5 – Lookout
        • Rule 6 – Safe Speed
        • Rule 7 – Risk of collision
        • Rule 8 – Action to avoid collision
        • Rule 9 – Narrow Channels
        • Rule 10 – Traffic separation schemes
      • Section 2 (Rule 11 – 18)
        • Rule 11 – Application
        • Rule 12 – Sailing vessels
        • Rule13 – Overtaking
        • Rule 14 – Head on situation
        • Rule 15 – Crossing situation
        • Rule 16 – Action by give-way vessel
        • Rule 17 – Action by stand-on vessel
        • Rule 18 – Responsibilities between vessels
      • Section 3 (Rule 19)
        • Rule 19 – Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility
    • Part C- Lights and Shapes
      • Rule 20 – Application
      • Rule 21- Definitions
      • Rule 22 – Visibility of lights
      • Rule 23 – Power-driven vessels underway
      • Rule 24 – Towing and pushing
      • Rule 25 – Sailing vessels underway and vessels under oars
      • Rule 26 – Fishing vessels
      • Rule 27 – Vessels N.U.C or R.A.M
      • Rule 28 – Vessels constrained by their draught
      • Rule 29 – Pilot vessels
      • Rule 30 – Anchored vessels and vessels aground
      • Rule 31 – Seaplanes
    • Part D- Sound and Light Signals
      • Rule 32 – Definitions
      • Rule 33 – Equipment for sound signals
      • Rule 34 – Manoeuvring and warning signals
      • Rule 35 – Sound signals in restricted visibility
      • Rule 36 : Signals to attract attention
      • Rule 37 – Distress signals
    • Part E- Exemptions (Rule 38)
      • Rule 38 – Exemptions
    • Part F – Verification of compliance with the provisions of the Convention
      • Rule 39 – Definitions
      • Rule 40 – Application
      • Rule 41 – Verification of compliance
    • Annexes
      • Annex 1 – Positioning and technical details of lights and shapes
      • ANNEX II – Additional Signals for Fishing Vessels Fishing in Close Proximity
      • ANNEX III – Technical Details of Sound Signal Appliances
      • ANNEX IV – Distress Signals
  • Glossary
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Colreg's / Part A- General / Rule 2 – Responsibility
Part A - General

Rule 2 – Responsibility

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution, which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

Meaning: There is no escaping the penalty of not following these rules. Everybody is responsible and no excuses are permitted that ‘I forgot’ etc. Also, there are some practices which are followed by seamen which may not be in the rules but they have been said and in use for many years, even these are included in compliance. This rule was formulated after all the ‘ordinary practice of seamen’ were written down as part of these rules, but some of the ‘ordinary practices’ which may have been overlooked are covered by this rule.

Circumstances can dictate a deviation from these rules, like if the seaman thinks that by following the rules in a special situation the action would endanger the ships, in that case, a deviation may be permitted which will not endanger the ships.

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances including the limitations of the vessels involved which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

Meaning: In understanding and then complying with these rules – pay close attention to the dangers of navigation and to the circumstances which may arise where blindly following these rules may endanger the ships. 

Related Article:   Rule 4 - Application

For this, if required by common sense that to follow the rules would make a situation worse, then an action may be taken which are different from these rules but would have ensured safety for the vessels.

Related:

  • Master Pilot Exchange - Duties, Responsibilities and…
  • Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS)
  • BLU Code - Code Of Practice For The Safe Loading And…
  • Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing…
  • Annex I - Positioning and technical details of lights and…
  • International Institutions and their Association with…

By Cult of Sea Filed Under: Part A- General Tagged With: colregs, responsibility, rule 2

Comments

  1. Eliyas says

    November 26, 2021 at 1:24 am

    That was very usefull for me…!
    It helps me alot with my university curses…!
    Thanks for such a nice handout…!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Simple Colregs COS Ad

Join Our List

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.

Powered with ♥ by Cult of Sea

instagram-button

About Us | Terms | Contact Us | Sitemap | Marine Glossary (BETA)

Cult of Sea®™ · Made with ❤ by a small band of sailors