COLREGS: Preventing Collisions at Sea
60 collisions → 16 after traffic separation. 41 rules, 155 nations, 99% of shipping. Distributed coordination through standardized signals—no central controller needed.
Between 1956 and 1960: 60 collisions in the Strait of Dover. After COLREGS traffic separation schemes: 16 collisions. This is distributed coordination through simple rules—every vessel follows the same protocol without centralized control. The 41 rules represent codified signaling conventions: lights, shapes, and sounds that communicate vessel type, direction, and intent. Like ant pheromone trails, COLREGS create predictable behavior through standardized signals. Rule 5 (lookout), Rule 6 (safe speed), and Rule 10 (traffic separation) enable thousands of vessels to navigate shared waters without a coordinator. Ratified by 155 nations representing 99% of global shipping, COLREGS demonstrate that distributed systems can achieve coordination through shared protocols—no central authority required. The convention now faces its biggest challenge: autonomous ships that must interpret rules designed for human judgment.
Key Findings from IMO (1972)
- Strait of Dover collisions dropped from 60 (1956-60) to 16 (1981) after traffic separation schemes
- 41 rules divided into six sections covering steering, lights, shapes, and sound signals
- 155 nations ratified—representing 99% of global shipping tonnage
- Traffic separation schemes were the major innovation of the 1972 revision
- Now being reviewed for autonomous vessel compatibility