The new edition of the Rules issue "D" is now available (Sept, 1999). The list below does not apply to that publication, ie edition M16672.2D has removed the errors and omissions listed here. Other than a few minor typos and printing the wrong version number on the spine (it says C outside, but D inside) we have so far not discovered any substantive errors or typos in this latest version. Once a thorough proof reading is completed we will post the results here.


Typographic errors and omissions in COMDTINST M16672.2C,
— the previous official US gov printed edition of the Navigation Rules, dated 1996,97,98, and early 99
( The next edition number will end in "D" not "C." )

Compiled by Starpath School of Navigation, Seattle, WA
Reference this page as: www.starpath.com/errors.htm — Contributors and sources listed at the end


P = Page, L = Line

P-21: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
9(e)(i) In a narrow channel or fairway when overtaking, the power-driven vessel intending to overtake another power-driven vessel shall indicate her intention by sounding the appropriate signal prescribed in Rule 34(c) and take steps to permit safe passing. The power-driven vessel being overtaken, if in agreement, shall sound the same signal and may, if specifically agreed to take steps to permit safe passing. If in doubt she shall sound the danger signal prescribed in Rule 34(d).

P-31: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
15(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or water specified by the Secretary, a power-driven vessel crossing a river shall keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel ascending or descending the river.

P-45: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
23(a)(i) a masthead light forward; (now the same as the COLREGS counterpart)

P-61: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
24 (f) Provided that any number of vessels being towed alongside or pushed in a group shall be lighted as one vessel, except as provided in paragraph (iii)--
(i) a vessel being pushed ahead, not being part of a composite unit, shall exhibit at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light;
(ii) a vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit a sternlight and at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light; and
(iii) when vessels are towed alongside on both sides of the towing vessels a stern light shall be exhibited on the stern of the outboard vessel on each side of the towing vessel, and a single set of sidelights as far forward and as far outboard as is practicable, and a single special flashing light.

P-79: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
26(b)(i) delete basket option, so this rule is now same as COLREGS counterpart.

P-83: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
26(c)(i) delete basket option, so this rule is now same as COLREGS counterpart.

P-85: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
26(d) The additional signals described in Annex II to these Regulations apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing. (This is a rewording that now matches the COLREGS counterpart.)

P-91, L-8: Rule 24 —> Rule 24(a)... this is a possible error. It has, however, actually been worded this way in earlier editions as well.

P-102, L-5: postage duty —> pilotage duty

P-102, L-14: (caption) portage duty —> pilotage duty

P-103, L-5: postage duty —> pilotage duty

P-103, L-12: postage duty —> pilotage duty

P-108, L-5: "or where lights or" —> "or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or" (Part of the sentence is missing.)

P-117: Change wording of this US Inland Rule to read:
34 (h) A vessel that reaches agreement with another vessel in a head on, crossing, or overtaking situation, as for example, by using the radiotelephone as prescribed by the Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act (85 Stat. 164; 33 U.S.C. 1201 et seq), is not obliged to sound the whistle signals prescribed by this Rule, but may do so. If agreement is not reached, then whistle signals shall be exchanged in a timely manner and shall prevail.

P-120, L-22: postage duty —> pilotage duty

P-121, L-22: postage duty —> pilotage duty

P-131: Change wording of this US Inland Annex to read:
84.01 Definitions
(a) The term “height above the hull” means height above the uppermost continuous deck. This height shall be measured from the position vertically beneath the location of the light.

(b) High-speed craft means a craft capable of maximum speed in meters/second equal to or exceeding: 3.7 x ( D exp[0.1667] ), where D = displacement corresponding to the design water line expressed in (meters cubed). Note: the same formula expressed in pounds and knots is: maximum speed in knots equal to or exceeding 1.98 x ( D exp[0.1667] ), where D = displacement corresponding to the design water line expressed in (pounds). Please note we (Starpath) have taken the liberty to change notation of this part slightly as it appears to us there may be an error in the official wording of this new part. More specifically, there is a chance that there is a typo in the official IMO publication that has been reproduced in the US Federal Register.

(c) The term “practical cut-off” means, for vessels 20 meters or more in length, 12.5 percent of the minimum luminous intensity (Table 84.15(b)) corresponding to the greatest range of visibility for which the requirements of Annex I are met.

(d) The term “Rule” or “Rules” means the Inland Navigation Rules contained in Sec. 2 of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-591, 94 Stat. 3415, 33 U.S.C. 2001, December 24, 1980) as amended. [CGD 81-008, 46 FR 62447, Dec. 24, 1981, as amended by CGD 94-011, 63 FR 5731, Feb. 4, 1998]

P-134, L-24: power driven —> power-driven

P-135: Change wording of this US Inland Annex to read:
84.05 Horizontal positioning and spacing of lights (several changes and re-ordering here)
(a) Except as specified in paragraph (e) of this section, when two masthead lights are prescribed for a power-driven vessel, the horizontal distance between them must not be less than one quarter of the length of the vessel but need not be more than 50 meters. The forward light must be placed not more than one half of the length of the vessel from the stem.

(b) On a power-driven vessel of 20 meters or more in length the sidelights shall not be placed in front of the forward masthead lights. They shall be placed at or near the side of the vessel.

(c) When the lights prescribed in Rule 27(b)(i) are placed vertically between the forward masthead light(s) and the after masthead light(s) these all-round lights shall be placed at a horizontal distance of not less than 2 meters from the fore and aft centerline of the vessel in the athwartship direction.

(d) When only one masthead light is prescribed for a power-driven vessel, this light must be exhibited forward of amidships. For a vessel of less than 20 meters in length, the vessel shall exhibit one masthead light as far forward as is practicable.

(e) On power-driven vessels 50 meters but less than 60 meters in length operated on the Western Rivers, and those waters specified in section 89.25, the horizontal distance between masthead lights shall not be less than 10 meters.

P-143: Add new part and note to this US Inland Annex:
84.17 (c) If it is impracticable to comply with paragraph (b) of this section by exhibiting only one all-round light, two all-round lights shall be used suitably positioned or screened so that they appear, as far as practicable, as one light at a distance of one mile.

Note to part (c): Two unscreened all-round lights that are 1.28 meters apart or less will appear as one light to the naked eye at a distance of one nautical mile.

P-147: Add new part to this US Inland Annex:
84.27 High Speed craft [note: Refer to International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, IMO-187E, 1995]
(a) The masthead light of high-speed craft with a length-to-breadth ratio of less than 3.0 may be placed at a height related to the breadth lower than that prescribed in Section 84.03 (a)(1), provided that the base angle of the isosceles triangle formed by the sidelights and masthead light, when seen in end elevation, is not less than 27 degrees as determined by the formula in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) The minimum height of masthead light above sidelights is to be determined by the following formula: Tan 27° = X/Y; where Y is the horizontal distance between sidelights and X is the height of the forward masthead light.

P-148, L-14: ...pelagic gear, may exhibit —> ...pelagic gear, shall exhibit

P-148, L-21: ...pair trawling, may exhibit —> ....pair trawling, shall exhibit

P-148, L-27: this paragraph is missing:
(c) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length engaged in trawling, whether using demersal or pelagic gear or engaged in pair trawling, may exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section, as appropriate.

P-153, L-6: one /3-octave —> 1/3-octave

P-153, L-8: +1 percent —> +/- 1 percent

P-161, L-6: freed of assistance —> need of assistance

P-161: Add new clause to this US Inland Annex:
87.1 Add to the end of part (o)... radar transponders must meet requirement of 47 CFR 80.1095.

P-167, L-37: comers —> corners

P-167, L-40: comers —> corners

P-167. Much of 88.13 has been reworded, hence here is new full version: change old Part (d) to Part (e) and add these new parts...
88.13 Lights on moored barges
(a) The following barges shall display at night and, if practicable, in periods of restricted visibility the lights described in paragraph (b) of this section:
(1) Every barge projecting into a buoyed or restricted channel.
(2) Every barge so moored that it reduces the available navigable width of any channel to less than 80 meters.
(3) Barges moored in groups more than two barges wide or to a maximum width of over 25 meters. (4) Every barge not moored parallel to the bank or dock.
(b) Barges described in paragraph (a) of this section shall carry two unobstructed all-round white lights of an intensity to be visible for at least one nautical mile and meeting the technical requirements as prescribed in section 84.15 of this chapter.

(c) A barge or group of barges at anchor or made fast to one or more mooring buoys or other similar device, in lieu of the provisions of Inland Navigation Rule 30, may carry unobstructed all-round white lights of an intensity to be visible for at least one nautical mile that meet the requirements of section 84.15 of this chapter and shall be arranged as follows:
(1) Any barge that projects from a group formation, shall be lighted on its outboard corners.
(2) On a single barge moored in water where other vessels normally navigate on both sides of the barge, lights shall be placed to mark the corner extremities of the barge.
(3) On barges moored in group formation, moored in water where other vessels normally navigate on both sides of the group, lights shall be placed to mark the corner extremities of the group.

(d) The following are exempt from the requirements of this section:
(1) A barge or group of barges moored in a slip or slough used primarily for mooring purposes.
(2) A barge or group of barges moored behind a pierhead
(3) A barge less than 20 meters in length when moored in a special anchorage area designated in accordance with section 109.10 of this chapter.

P-169, L-22: 332.4- —> 332.4 (delete "-")

P-172: Add new Authority and two new parts to International Interpretative Rules
AUTHORITY: 14 U.S.C. 2 and 633; 33 U.S.C. 1602; E.O. 11964; 42 F.R. 4327; 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p.88; 49 CFR 1.46(n).

82.5 Lights for moored vessels.
For the purpose of Rule 30 of the 72 COLREGS, a vessel at anchor includes a barge made fast to one or more mooring buoys or other similar device attached to the sea or river floor. Such a barge may be lighted as a vessel at anchor in accordance with Rule 30 or maybe lighted on the corners in accordance with 33 CFR 88.13.

82.7 Sidelights for unmanned barges.
An unmanned barge being towed may use the exception of COLREGS Rule 24 (h). However, this exception only applies to the vertical sector requirements.

P-173: Add two new parts to Inland Annex
90.5 Lights for moored vessels.
A vessel at anchor includes a vessel made fast to one or more mooring buoys or other similar device attached to the ocean floor. Such vessels may be lighted as a vessel at anchor in accordance with Rule 30, or may be lighted on the corners in accordance with 33 CFR 88.13.

90.7 Sidelights for unmanned barges.
An unmanned barge being towed may use the exception of COLREGS Rule 24 (h). However, this exception only applies to the vertical sector requirements for sidelights.

P180. Replace these sections of the Demarcation Lines with these corrected versions:
80.501 Tom’s River NJ to Cape May, NJ. (d) A line drawn from the southernmost point of Longport at latitude 39° 18.2' N, longitude 74° 33.1’ W to the northeasternmost point of Ocean City at latitude 39° 17.6' N, longitude 74° 33.1' W across the Great Egg Harbor Inlet.

P181. Replace these sections of the Demarcation Lines with these corrected versions:
80.520 Cape Hatteras, NC to Cape Lookout, NC. (a) A line drawn from Hatteras Inlet Lookout Tower at latitude 35° 11.8’ N, longitude 75° 44.9’ W 255° true to the eastern end of Ocracoke Island.

P-185, L-35: change (in 80.735) "FL 10" to "FL to"

P-194, L-15: change "H usneme" to "Hueneme"

P-194, L-16: change "fort" Hueneme" to "Port" Hueneme

P-196, L-31: change "ORIWA" to "OR/WA" or "OR-WA"

P-196, L-33: change "Cotumbia" to "Columbia"

P-197, L-24: change "IJ.S." to "U.S."

P197. Replace these sections of the Demarcation Lines with these corrected versions:
80.1495 U.S. Pacific Island Possessions. The 72 COLREGS shall apply on the bays, harbors, lagoons, and waters surrounding the U.S. Pacific Island Possessions of American Samoa, Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Johnson, Palmyra, Swains and Wake Island.

P-197, L-33: change "fCGD" to "[CGD"

P-197, L-45: change "Kawalhae" to "Kawaihae"

P-199, L-28: change "19831" to "1983]"

P-202, L-37: change "Alterative" to "Alternative"

P-205, L-5: Tombbbee —> Tombigbee

P-205, L-6: Tombbbee —> Tombigbee

P-205, L-14: Apaiachicoia —> Apalachicola

P205, L-15: Rule 24 (1) —> Rule 24 (i)

P205, L-15: apples —> applies

P205, L-24: Mid —> Mile

P-205, L-25: Badge —> Bridge

P-205, L-26: Ught ·10" —> Light "10"

P-205, L-27: Faxed —> Fixed

P-205, L-27: Bridge d Mile —> Bridge at Mile

P-205, L-30: Ught —> Light

P-205, L-31: Mid —> Mile

P-205, L-32: River d New Orleans —> River at New Orleans

P-205, L-36: Emender Ufl —> Ellender Lift

P-205, L-41: Bridge d Mile —> Bridge at Mile

P-205, L-42: Mid —> Mile

P-205, L-45: Reddish —> Redfish

P-205, L-49: 76 d Mile —> 76 at Mile

P-205, L-51: Bridge d Mile —> Bridge at Mile

P-210, L-01: change "Ust" to "List"


Contributors who have reported errors listed here:
  • Richard Block, Marine Education Textbooks
  • Pamela Lim Hom, Offshore Navigators
  • David Burch, Starpath
  • Captain Donald R. Sacca
  • Captain Jorge J. Viso
  • Bob Claitor (USNA 1948)

Sources of official changes not included in COMDTINST M16672.2C are :

  • Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 (PL 104-324, sec 710)
  • Supplement to COLREGS 1972, IMO - E1465.
  • Federal Register 63, page 23, March 6, 1998.
If you know of other errors or omissions we should include, or corrections to what we have here, we would much appreciate receiving notice of them at: [email protected]. Thanks.


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