Collision Regulations and Fast Craft

Abstract

I wrote a paper for this Journal called Fast Craft and Collision Regulations two years ago that was an attempt to highlight weaknesses in the current Colregs that had become apparent through the advent of large fast craft, mainly fast ferries. The paper offered possible amendments to the Colregs in order to correct the situation and bring some order to this increasingly complex situation. The matter of amendments to the Colregs was discussed at length right up to IMO sub-committee level, but amendment of the current Colregs was rejected largely because of the diversity of opinion about this subject. Without a consensus, it is difficult to effect change and with hindsight the proposals presented in my paper were too complex, and perhaps too far reaching. The purpose of this second paper is to propose a much simpler solution, one which takes into account current practice and which does not close the door to more defined action in the future.