COLREGs at Midnight

Near-miss tales that de-mystify Rules 5, 7, 8, and 15–19 (without the yawns)

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At 23:50, the bridge of MV Midnight Muesli looked like a dim cockpit and smelled like coffee that had once been fresh. Third Officer Tara had the watch, a pencil behind her ear, and a quiet prayer that nothing interesting would happen before handover. The radar wore a respectable beard of echoes. ARPA and ECDIS purred - confident, well-groomed liars. Out on the starboard bow, a green light appeared, the sort of green that says “I promise I’m fine” right before it drives into your biography.

Tara did what every good watchkeeper does at midnight: “COLREGs, don’t fail me now.”

This is for that moment - not a lecture, lullaby, or courtroom, just the rules that matter at oops-o’clock, told through near-misses we all collect and never proudly mention in union meetings. We'll keep it to Rule 5 (Lookout), Rule 7 (Risk of collision), Rule 8 (Action to avoid collision), and the night-shift quartet 15-19 (Crossing, Give-way/Stand-on, Restricted Visibility). If you want Rule 2 (Responsibility), it’s always there, judging us gently from the bookshelf.

Tale 1

The Handsome Green Light (Rules 5, 7 & 15)