Learn the COLREGs online

The collision regulations decide who keeps clear, what a light or a shape is telling you, and how you move when you cannot see the other vessel. Mariners call them the COLREGs, the Rules of the Road, or IRPCS. They are the same rules. This course teaches them for the watch, and for the COLREGs exam questions that come up in Yachtmaster theory and OOW study.

You work through narrated slides, short interactives and quizzes. An optional opening section covers port and starboard, bearings, lights and the main types of vessel. The blocks then take you from Rule 1 to Rule 41 and Annexes I to IV: conduct in any visibility, vessels in sight of one another, restricted visibility, lights and shapes, sound and light signals, and the technical annexes. Each gated block asks for 80% on its quiz before the next one opens. A final assessment covers the whole set.

After you enrol, the course appears on your dashboard. Study on a laptop, tablet or phone. There is nothing to install.

Inside the lessons

What you will learn

• Say where the rules apply and who is responsible for complying with them
• Keep a proper lookout and judge safe speed and risk of collision
• Take the correct action in head-on, crossing and overtaking situations
• Apply Rule 19 in restricted visibility, including action on radar contacts
• Identify the navigation lights and day shapes of common vessels
• Read sound and light signals, including distress signals
• Use the annexes for the technical detail behind lights, shapes and sound appliances
• Sit a mixed final assessment across the whole COLREGs

Who this course is for

Course format

Self-paced online. Plan for about 12–18 hours. Lessons run in a browser on a laptop, tablet or phone. There is nothing to install. When you finish, Sea Skills Online issues a certificate of completion. That certificate records your study. It is not an STCW, MCA or RYA certificate.

Watchkeepers, yacht crew and officer candidates. Price £49. Checkout creates your account, or signs you in, takes payment through Stripe, and adds the course to your dashboard.

Tutor support

Unlimited free tutor support is included. If a lesson does not make sense, email hello@seaskillsonline.com. There is no extra charge, and there is no limit on how often you write.

Course contents

1. Basics before the rules

   Section 0 · Optional on-ramp · Optional

   Port and starboard, bearings, navigation lights in plain words and the main types of vessel.

2. Application, responsibility and definitions

   Block 0 · Rules 1–5 · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Where the rules apply, who is responsible, the key definitions and keeping a proper lookout.

3. Conduct in any visibility

   Block 1 · Rules 6–10 · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Safe speed, risk of collision, action to avoid collision, narrow channels and traffic separation schemes.

4. Vessels in sight of one another

   Block 2 · Rules 11–18 · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Sailing vessels, overtaking, head-on, crossing, give-way and stand-on duties, and responsibilities between vessels.

5. Restricted visibility

   Block 3 · Rule 19 · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Conduct when vessels cannot see one another, including action on radar contacts alone.

6. Lights and shapes I

   Block 4 · Rules 20–24 · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Application, definitions, visibility of lights, power-driven vessels under way, and towing.

7. Lights and shapes II

   Block 5 · Rules 25–31 · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Sailing vessels, fishing vessels, vessels not under command and restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draught, pilots, anchored and aground, seaplanes and WIG craft.

8. Sound and light signals, exemptions

   Block 6 · Rules 32–41 · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Whistle and bell signals, manoeuvring and warning signals, distress signals, exemptions and compliance.

9. The Annexes

   Block 7 · Annexes I–IV · Quiz pass mark 80%

   Positioning and technical details of lights and shapes, additional signals for fishing vessels, sound appliances and distress signals.

10. Final assessment

    Block 8 · Whole course · Quiz pass mark 80%

    A mixed final assessment across every rule and annex.

The course follows the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended. The regulations are published by the International Maritime Organization. Rule text © IMO.

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