Key Points

• Rule 1 applies to different geographic areas but both INTERNATIONAL and INLAND rules agree, it applies to "all vessels".
• The "high seas" of INTERNATIONAL waters are outside of the 12 nautical mile demarcation line off the coastline.
• INLAND waters include all waters inside of the 12 nautical mile demarcation line, including the rivers and Great Lakes.
• There is a high level of consistency between both INTERNATIONAL and INLAND rules but the differences between them are warranted.
• Additional station signal lights, shapes, or whistles are authorized by BOTH rules for warships, vessels proceeding in a convoy, or fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet but they must be different enough that they cannot be mistaken for any other lights.
• Vessels that have been designed to perform a particular function that would have that function impaired by complying with the rules are permitted to deviate from the Rules by "alternative compliance".
• All self-propelled vessels 12 meters or more in length, must carry a copy of the Rules.