COLREGs Rule 38: Who got a delay and for how long

Rule 38. Who got a delay and for how long

Vessels whose keel was laid before the rules entered into force (15 July 1977) and that complied with the 1960 regulations were exempted: up to four years for the ranges of visibility of lights and their colour specifications; up to nine years for the repositioning of masthead lights on vessels of 150 m or more, for masthead and sidelights under Annex I and for sound-signalling appliances under Annex III; permanently for repositioning caused by the change from imperial to metric units, for masthead lights on vessels under 150 m and for the positioning of all-round lights.

Part of the convention Exemptions

Vessels whose keel was laid before the rules entered into force (15 July 1977) and that complied with the 1960 regulations were exempted: up to four years for the ranges of visibility of lights and their colour specifications; up to nine years for the repositioning of masthead lights on vessels of 150 m or more, for masthead and sidelights under Annex I and for sound-signalling appliances under Annex III; permanently for repositioning caused by the change from imperial to metric units, for masthead lights on vessels under 150 m and for the positioning of all-round lights.

At sea it looks like this

Little practical weight today, but examiners ask it: the exemption for light ranges and colour is four years.

The rule says«Any vessel (or class of vessels), provided that she complies with the requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1960, the keel of which is laid or which is at a corresponding stage of construction before the entry into force of these Regulations, may be exempted from compliance therewith».