COLREG - Rule 6 - What Is a Safe Speed at Sea ?

What is a safe speed at sea, and who decides it? COLREGs Rule 6 explained: every factor of safe speed in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs / IRPCS), shown with true-to-scale animation from the bridge. There is no speed limit in the rules of the road at sea. Instead, Rule 6 asks every officer of the watch one question: can I still take proper and effective action to avoid collision, and stop within the distance the situation allows? In this video we walk through the rule clause by clause — the six factors every vessel must consider (visibility, traffic density, manoeuvrability, background light at night, wind, sea and current, draught and depth) and the six extra factors for vessels with operational radar (equipment limitations, range scale, clutter, small targets, number of targets, and judging visibility by radar). 0:00 No speed limit at sea — why Rule 6 matters 0:17 What the rule says 0:35 Two tests: can she act, can she stop? 0:57 "At all times" 1:13 The factors — six for every vessel 1:27 (a)(i) State of visibility 1:42 (a)(ii) Traffic density 1:56 (a)(iii) Manoeuvrability — stopping distance and turning ability 2:23 (a)(iv) Background light at night 2:44 (a)(v) Wind, sea, current and navigational hazards 3:04 (a)(vi) Draught and available depth — squat 3:23 Six more factors for vessels with radar 3:38 (b)(i) Radar limitations — blind sectors and minimum range 3:56 (b)(ii) Range scale in use 4:17 (b)(iii) Sea state, weather and interference — clutter 4:34 (b)(iv) Small vessels and ice not detected 4:55 (b)(v) Number, location and movement of targets 5:10 (b)(vi) Assessing visibility by radar ⚠️ For general information and entertainment purposes only — not a substitute for the official COLREG text, approved training or professional advice. #COLREGs #Rule6 #Seamanship