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The COLREGS and the Princess Alice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2008

John Kemp
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Abstract

There is currently considerable interest in the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea (the COLREGS). Suggestions for changes are made, but their validity is difficult to assess because there is little possibility of testing new proposals before they are introduced. There is, however, the possibility of considering the history of the COLREGS, and their effectiveness, as they have evolved over the years. In this paper, the author's aim is to look at the lessons that may be learned from one, particularly tragic, collision between the Princess Alice and the Bywell Castle in 1878. Opinions differ as to whether a study of history is likely to be a useful exercise.

History is more or less bunk – Henry Ford (American Industrialist)

The only way forwards is backwards – Boris Johnson (British Politician)

Keywords

COLREGSPrincess AliceBywell CastleCollisions
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 61 , Issue 2 , April 2008 , pp. 271 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2008

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References

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