Ships are built to sail the world's oceans. In order to be able to do this without accidents, the seafaring states united in the International Maritime Organization of the United Nations, IMO for short, agreed on collision prevention rules as early as 1972. And right from the start, they were not only intended for the high seas, but also and above all for the adjacent waters. The seafaring nations should also standardize their local regulations based on the KVR. That has happened in the meantime. Age-old rules of thumb such as "port tack before starboard bow", "leeward before windward" or "overtaking must avoid" can be found in them. But do these rules always apply without exception?
Photo gallery: The collision avoidance rules (KVR) in pictures
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holmi! Avoid crossing courses -
holmi! Dodge motorboat and sailor -
holmi! Windward gives way to lee -
holmi! Sailors with wind from different sides -
holmi! Avoid oncoming traffic
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Sailors know the simple rules of thumb, not least because they are part of the basic repertoire of questionnaires for a sailing license or boat license and they can be used to defuse the overwhelming majority of all dangerous situations at sea.