COLREGs · Rule 36
Signals to Attract Attention
Last verified: 2026-05-16
TL;DR
Any vessel may, if necessary to attract another's attention, make light or sound signals that cannot be mistaken for a signal authorised elsewhere in the rules, or direct the beam of her searchlight in danger's direction (without embarrassing other vessels).
Authoritative source
Source links checked against the current public rule corpus on 2026-05-16.
- 33 CFR §83.36— verbatim Inland Rule text (US Code of Federal Regulations)(retrieved 2026-05-16)
- International COLREGs Rule 36 verbatim text is published by the IMO. The Inland counterpart 33 CFR §83 chunk above mirrors the international wording almost verbatim.
Inland parallel
Inland Rule 36 — Signals to Attract Attention →More from Part D — Sound and Light Signals
Related drills
Drill COLREGs Rule 36
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