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Norway Deck Officer Class 5 study materials
Norway Deck Officer Class 5 study resources

Norway Deck Officer Class 5: Collision Regulations (COLREGs) and Watchkeeping

Norway Deck Officer Class 5 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Collision Regulations (COLREGs) and Watchkeeping

What the COLREGs paper tests

The paper tests rule-by-rule application, not memorised wording: risk of collision, conduct in sight and in restricted visibility, lights and shapes, sound signals, and the watchkeeping standards of STCW including rest hours.

Core rules

  • Rule 5 look-out, Rule 6 safe speed, Rule 7 risk of collision: use all available means, including radar plotting or systematic observation, and assume risk if the bearing is steady and range decreasing.
  • Steering and sailing rules: overtaking (Rule 13) keeps clear; head-on (Rule 14) both alter to starboard; crossing (Rule 15) the vessel with the other on her starboard side gives way.
  • Stand-on vessel (Rule 17) holds course and speed, but may act once it is clear the give-way vessel is not taking action, and must act in extremis. It should not alter to port for a crossing vessel on her own port side.
  • Restricted visibility (Rule 19): reduce speed to a safe speed for the conditions, no stand-on or give-way status applies.
  • Lights: power-driven underway shows masthead lights, sidelights and a sternlight; ranges and arcs depend on length. Fishing, not under command and restricted in ability to manoeuvre carry prescribed shapes by day.
  • STCW rest hours: minimum 10 hours rest in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any 7 days, in at most two periods, one of at least 6 hours.

Worked example

You are in a power-driven vessel making 12 kn. A power-driven vessel is bearing 020° relative, range 5 nm, steady bearing, closing. She has you on her port side, so she is give-way. You are stand-on: hold course and speed, sound no signal required, keep plotting. If at 1.5 nm she has still not altered, take action, but not to port across her bow, and avoid a large alteration that creates new risk.

Traps that cost marks

  • Treating a steady bearing at long range as safe without checking range change.
  • Applying stand-on rights in fog; Rule 19 removes that status.
  • Quoting light arcs (225 degrees masthead, 112.5 sidelights, 135 sternlight) incorrectly.
  • Confusing not under command with restricted in ability to manoeuvre.