COLREGs Practice Questions for the MCA Orals

International Collision Regulations in the MCA orals

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG 1972, as amended, applied in the UK by MSN 1781) are the topic every MCA deck oral returns to. On OOW Part A, three of the fifteen questions are on the Collision Regulations and you need 90% of those test points. In the oral, the examiner sets up encounters on a model board or screen and expects the rule, the action and the reason.

On Part A

12 of the 60 test points (3 of 15 questions); you need 90%, 11 of 12

In the oral

The examiner can ask about any part of the syllabus, in scenarios. Say your answer out loud before you check it.

Our drill

10 questions from 89 COLREGs questions, untimed, a model answer after every one; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass

Study notes

• Rule 5: a proper look-out by sight and hearing and by all available means at all times. Rule 6: a safe speed for the conditions, with extra factors for vessels with radar. Rule 7: assume risk of collision exists if in doubt; a compass bearing that does not appreciably change means risk exists, and even a changing bearing may not be enough with a large ship, a tow or at close range.
• Rule 8: action to avoid collision is positive, made in ample time and large enough to be readily apparent by eye or radar; a succession of small alterations should be avoided. Slackening speed, stopping or reversing is part of the toolkit.
• Rules 13 to 15: an overtaking vessel (coming up from more than 22.5° abaft the beam) keeps out of the way until finally past and clear; head-on, both alter to starboard; crossing, the vessel that has the other on her own starboard side keeps out of the way and avoids crossing ahead.
• Rules 16 to 18: the give-way vessel takes early and substantial action; the stand-on vessel keeps course and speed, may act once it is apparent the give-way vessel is not acting, and must act when collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel alone. Rule 18 sets the order of responsibility: not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draught, fishing, sailing, then power-driven.
• Rule 19 applies to vessels not in sight of one another in restricted visibility: no stand-on or give-way vessel; avoid altering to port for a vessel forward of the beam (other than one being overtaken) and avoid altering towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.
• Lights (Rules 20 to 31): masthead 225°, sidelights 112.5° each, sternlight 135°, all-round 360°. Not under command: two all-round red; restricted in ability to manoeuvre: red-white-red; constrained by draught: three all-round red; trawling: green over white; fishing other than trawling: red over white; pilot vessel: white over red; aground: anchor lights plus two all-round red.
• Shapes: ball at anchor; two balls not under command; ball-diamond-ball restricted in ability to manoeuvre; cylinder constrained by draught; two cones points together fishing; diamond for a tow over 200 m; three balls aground; cone point down for a sailing vessel under power.
• Sound signals (Rules 32 to 37): short blast about 1 second, prolonged 4 to 6 seconds. One short: altering to starboard; two short: altering to port; three short: operating astern propulsion; five or more short: doubt. In restricted visibility a power-driven vessel making way sounds one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes; stopped, two prolonged.

What the examiner looks for

• Applying Rules 5 to 19 to a scenario: who gives way, what action and why, and what the stand-on vessel may and must do (MIN 653: thorough knowledge of the content, application and intent of the COLREG).
• Recognising any vessel by its lights at night, its shapes by day and its sound signals in fog, from any aspect.
• Conduct in restricted visibility and with radar under Rules 6, 7, 8 and 19, including the dangers of scanty radar information.
• Traffic separation schemes (Rule 10), narrow channels (Rule 9) and the responsibilities between vessels (Rule 18).

How to study it

• Learn the rules in your own words first, then the exact wording of the key ones (5, 7, 8, 17 and 19). Examiners listen for the words "ample time", "readily apparent" and "not appreciably change".
• Make light and shape cards from every aspect: ahead, on each beam and astern. Most Part A errors come from aspect, not from the meaning of the signal.
• Talk scenarios through out loud: name the vessels, the rule, your action and what you would do if the other vessel did nothing.
• Take the COLREGs drill until you score 90% or better, because that is the Part A minimum.

Common questions

The other MCA orals topics

• IALA Systems of Buoyage
• Navigational Procedures
• Seaworthiness
• Cargo Work
• Emergency Procedures
• Communication
• Regulation
• Other (Ship Handling, Meteorology, Safety and Security)
• Master: Law, Certificates and Surveys
• Master: Stability, Damage and Emergencies
• OOW Part A practice test (15 questions, 40 minutes)
• Mixed drill: every topic

Sources

• MCA: MIN 653 (M) Amendment 1, Deck Oral Exam Syllabus (OOW, Chief Mate and Master; expires 1 May 2027)
• MCA: MIN 690 Amendment 6, oral exam booking, Part A and Part B, resits and appeals
• MCA: MSF 4274, application for a deck oral examination (fees, oral pass validity)
• MCA: MIN 720 (M) Amendment 1, modernised officer qualifications and digital assessments (30 September 2026)
• MCA: MIN 654 (M) Amendment 1, Engineering and Electro-technical Officer Oral Exam Syllabus
• MCA: MSN 1781 (M+F) Amendment 3, the COLREG as applied in the UK
• IALA: Recommendation R1001, the IALA Maritime Buoyage System (Edition 2.0)