ABSTRACT
Thus obedience to the Rules is not an excuse for negligent navigation. In other words, while in the general case discharging the duty of good seamanship will involve following the applicable national or international navigational rules, there are cases where departure from the Collision Regulations may be needed in order to comply with the duty of good seamanship. The Collision Regulations provide specific guidance on how ships should navigate in situations where they approach other ships, the lights and shapes they should display, their actions in situations of reduced visibility etc. Rule 1 permits the operation of rules of navigation imposed by port authorities or coastal states in appropriate areas.
