Annexes and supplementary provisions

Knowing Rules 1–19 does not exhaust the COLREGs. Lights and shapes have technical requirements, sound appliances specified performance, nearby fishing additional signals, and distress its own identities. Four annexes belong to the structure. Part E addresses exemptions and Part F state compliance verification. The illustration organises documents and subjects without certifying a boat or turning editorial reading into an IMO audit. Each reference has an independent database identity so that version, subject and source can be followed rather than everything disappearing into one generic regulation link.

Annex I addresses vertical and horizontal positioning, separation, sectors, colour, intensity, shapes and approval. A correctly coloured light can still be incorrectly installed, obscured or outside the required sector. The lights lesson represents Rule 21 nominal sectors, not complete tolerances and photometric conditions. Construction and installation approval belongs to the appropriate flag-state authority. An editorial verified label is not that approval and does not dispense with other requirements. The diagram’s scope therefore needs to remain visible wherever it accompanies educational text or a model specification.