COLREGs form the spine of every maritime oral exam. Whether you are appearing before an MCA examiner in Southampton or an MMD surveyor in Mumbai, expect intense questioning on the Rules of the Road.
Part B — Steering and Sailing Rules
Rules 4–19 form the most tested section. Candidates must be able to instantly identify the type of encounter (crossing, head-on, or overtaking) and correctly state the action required for both give-way and stand-on vessels. Practice with physical models daily.
Sound Signals & Lights
Rules 20–38 covering lights and shapes are equally important. Examiners will show you silhouettes and expect immediate identification. Build a visual flashcard system to cement pattern recognition.
At Orion, we run dedicated COLREGs modules with 3D vessel-encounter simulators to ingrain these rules through muscle memory — not just rote learning.
