COLREGS PDF and Free Study Resources
Looking for a COLREGS PDF? Good news: the official U.S. version of the Navigation Rules is free, and you don't need to buy a printed book or download a copy from a random site. This page points you to the official sources, explains what each one contains, and shows you how to use them alongside free practice questions.
We link to the official publishers rather than hosting copies of anything ourselves. That way you always get the current version, straight from the source.
The official sources, in one place
| Source | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|
| NAVCEN Navigation Rules | The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center's amalgamated International and Inland Navigation Rules, with links to the PDF handbook | navcen.uscg.gov |
| 33 CFR Part 83 | The official text of the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules | eCFR Part 83 |
| 33 CFR Part 80 | The COLREGS demarcation lines | eCFR Part 80 |
| IMO | The International Maritime Organization's page on the COLREG Convention | imo.org |
1. The NAVCEN Navigation Rules (the best place to start)
The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center, known as NAVCEN, publishes the Navigation Rules online. Its amalgamated version puts the International Rules (72 COLREGS) and the Inland Rules together, so you can see where they match and where they differ. In the handbook, text unique to either rule set is shown in a text box or within angle brackets, which makes the differences easy to spot.
The NAVCEN handbook also notes that a hard copy of these rules may be used to meet the requirement in 33 CFR 83.01(g), Inland Rule 1(g). Inland Rule 1(g) says the operator of each self-propelled vessel 12 meters or more in length shall carry on board, and maintain for ready reference, a copy of the Inland Rules. More on that in our Rule 1 page.
What's inside the handbook:
- Rules 1 to 38 for both International and Inland, organized in Parts A to E.
- Part F, Rules 39 to 41 of the International Rules, on verification of compliance with the Convention.
- The Annexes, covering technical details of lights and shapes, additional signals for fishing vessels fishing in close proximity, sound signal appliances, distress signals, and the Inland pilot rules (Annex V).
- Related federal rules, such as the COLREGS demarcation lines and the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Regulations.
The NAVCEN page also links to the federal and IMO amendment documents behind the rules, if you ever want to see how a rule changed.
2. The eCFR, for the official Inland text
The Inland Navigation Rules live in the Code of Federal Regulations at 33 CFR Part 83. The NAVCEN handbook explains that on May 17, 2010, the Coast Guard published a final rule that placed the Inland Navigational Rules into the Code of Federal Regulations.
The eCFR is a free, continuously updated online version, and you can download or print sections from it. Each Inland rule is a section numbered to match the rule, so Rule 14 is 83.14 and Rule 34 is 83.34. The Inland Annexes sit in nearby parts of Title 33, including Part 84 (Annex I), Part 86 (Annex III), Part 87 (Annex IV), and Part 88 (Annex V, Pilot Rules).
3. 33 CFR Part 80, for the demarcation lines
If your question is "which rules apply here?" the answer is in 33 CFR Part 80. It lists every COLREGS demarcation line, region by region. Our guide to COLREGS demarcation lines explains how to read it.
4. IMO, for the Convention itself
The 72 COLREGS come from an international convention. The IMO's COLREG page explains the Convention and its history. For studying U.S. exams, though, the NAVCEN version is the more practical choice, because it shows the International and Inland rules together.
Practice this on your phone. COLREGS: Rules of the Road puts all 1,272 questions, with diagrams and spaced repetition, on your iPhone and iPad. Get the iOS app
Free study resources on this site
Reading the rules is necessary, but most people learn faster by mixing reading with practice. Here's what's free on COLREGS Prep:
- The free web study tool: 1,272 Coast Guard style Rules of the Road questions you can practice in your browser.
- All 38 rules explained: each rule page quotes the official text and explains it in plain English, with the Inland differences called out.
- USCG Rules of the Road study guide: a step by step study plan.
- USCG Rules of the Road test guide: what's on the test and how the questions are worded.
- Navigation lights cheat sheet: Rules 20 to 31.
- Sound signals guide: Rules 32 to 37.
- Inland vs International guide: the rule by rule differences.
- OUPV practice test: sample questions for six-pack candidates.
How to use the PDF without getting lost
The full rules plus Annexes are long, and reading them cover to cover isn't the fastest way to learn. Try this instead:
1. Read the Parts in order, one sitting each. Part A (Rules 1 to 3) first, then Part B in its three sections, then Part C, then Part D. Skip the Annexes on the first pass.
2. Read with questions in hand. After each Part, do 20 practice questions on that Part. Every miss tells you which paragraph to reread.
3. Mark the Inland differences. In the amalgamated handbook, the boxed and bracketed text shows where the two rule sets differ. Those spots are worth extra review.
4. Keep the rule text open while you review misses. Look up the exact wording. A lot of exam questions turn on a single phrase like "in sight of one another" or "not appreciably change."
5. Come back to the Annexes for specifics. Annex I (light positioning) and Annex IV (distress signals) are the most useful to skim once you know the main rules.
Try a question, then find the answer in the rules
Here's a real question from our bank, word for word. Try it, then find the answer in Rule 6.
Practice question 1. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which factor is listed in the Rules as one which must be taken into account when determining safe speed?
- The construction of the vessel
- The maneuverability of the vessel
- The experience of vessel personnel
- All of the above must be taken into account.
Show answer
B. The maneuverability of the vessel
And one more, which you'll find answered in Rule 2:
Practice question 2. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND According to the Navigation Rules, you may depart from the Rules when __________.
- no vessels are in sight visually
- no vessels are visible on radar
- you are in immediate danger
- out of sight of land
Show answer
C. you are in immediate danger
A note on unofficial copies
You'll find plenty of COLREGS PDFs posted around the web. Some are old editions, and some leave out the Inland Rules or the Annexes. For anything you're going to study from or rely on, use the official NAVCEN, eCFR, or IMO sources linked above.
Ready for exam-style practice? Drill your weak spots with missed-question review in COLREGS: Rules of the Road for iPhone and iPad. Download on the App Store
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download the COLREGS PDF for free?
The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN) publishes the amalgamated International and Inland Navigation Rules free on its website, with links to the PDF handbook. The official Inland text is also free on the eCFR at 33 CFR Part 83.
Is the NAVCEN handbook the same as the COLREGS?
It contains the International Rules (72 COLREGS) and the U.S. Inland Rules together, along with their Annexes and related federal regulations such as the COLREGS demarcation lines.
Where are the Inland Navigation Rules published?
In 33 CFR Part 83. The NAVCEN handbook notes that the Coast Guard placed the Inland Navigational Rules into the Code of Federal Regulations with a final rule published on May 17, 2010.
Do I need a printed copy on board?
Under Inland Rule 1(g), 33 CFR 83.01(g), the operator of each self-propelled vessel 12 meters or more in length must carry a copy of the Inland Rules on board for ready reference. The NAVCEN handbook notes that a hard copy of its rules may be used to meet that requirement.