The Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook
The Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook
For several years we did not sell this official USCG printing of the Rules since it was outdated and had many typos and errors in it. This, however, is a new edition and they have removed those errors and updated it. When it first came out from private publishers, it also had numerous typos, but these have also now been corrected. This latest edition is called COMDITINST MI6672.2D, the previous one that had so many errors in it was called COMDITINST MI6672.2C. This new edition was issued in mid 1999, but was not available till much later.
You can read here an Annotated Contents to these Rules [pdf file 20kb] to see what is included, but please note that these annotations are not part of the official rules. You can, however, print these out here to include in your book, which is useful since all printed editions of the rules do not include index and have only a skeleton Table of Contents. The software version is fully searchable, by word or phrase.
You can also see here a Sample page, showing how the International version of a rule is on one side of the page and the corresponding US Inland Rule is on the facing page.
[Note that the previous edition (COMDTINST M16672.2C) is outdated and has many typos. Over the several years it was in effect, we compiled these errors and they are still available if anyone might be interested. It is our understanding that our work of compiling these errors was indeed used by the USCG in preparing the new edition. See: Typos in the 1996-98 Navigation Rules. Needless to say, it is better to chuck the old one and get a new one if you have not done so already. Or print out the corrections and fold them into the older version. Technically, the USCG version C does not and did not meet the USCG requirement to carry the Rules on board unless you also carry a print out of the corrections.]
We strongly recommend that all mariners carry a print version of the Rules on board at all times — it is required by law for vessels over 39 feet while in US Inland Waters, but it is obviously prudent for all vessels in all waters. The book is likely to be quicker to get to, and can be carried on deck or in the wheel house. Needless to say, there are wonderful virtues of the software edition for study, quick searches, reference, and so forth, but experienced mariners know that all such electronic products are vulnerable at sea, and we don't want to lose access to the Navigation Rules — the most important book in navigation.