
USCG Navigation Rules Handbook
COLREGS, signals & boat crew
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About
The complete Navigation Rules, International (COLREGS) and Inland, side by side, rule by rule. Plus the Boat Crew Seamanship Manual and the International Code of Signals. Three public domain maritime references in one offline library.
An independent reference app. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the US Coast Guard, the USCG Auxiliary, NGA, or the Department of Homeland Security. It reproduces their public domain publications, which are also free at navcen.uscg.gov.
Free forever. No ads, no subscription, no account, no data sharing.
NAVIGATION RULES HANDBOOK (COLREGS AND INLAND)
The complete International Rules (72 COLREGS) and Inland Rules (33 CFR 83), presented side by side rule by rule exactly as the official handbook does, with a quick toggle to show only International, only Inland, or both at once. Parts A through F plus Annexes I through V. This is the whole rules of the road text, not a summary or a quiz bank.
BOAT CREW SEAMANSHIP MANUAL
The full manual: boat handling, towing, search and rescue, heavy weather, navigation, sound signals, anchoring. Every chapter, fully searchable.
INTERNATIONAL CODE OF SIGNALS (NGA PUB 102)
All 40 signal flags (26 letters, 10 numerals, 3 substitutes and the answering pennant) with their single letter meanings, plus the two letter Distress, SAR, Maneuvering and Weather sections.
WHO IT IS FOR
• Captains preparing for a USCG OUPV (six pack) or Master license
• Anyone studying the rules of the road for a licence exam
• Coast Guard Auxiliarists working through Boat Crew Member or Coxswain qualifications
• Recreational boaters and sailors who want the real rules at a glance, not a paraphrase
• Anyone responsible for the safe operation of a vessel
WHY THIS ONE
Most navigation rules apps charge between four and sixteen dollars for the text alone. Here the complete text of all three references, full search, and bookmarks are free, forever. A single $0.99 purchase adds the interactive study tools. There is no subscription and there never will be.
PRO TOOLS, A SINGLE $0.99 PURCHASE
SIDE BY SIDE RULE COMPARISON
International (72 COLREGS) and Inland (33 CFR 83) shown in parallel for every rule. Toggle between Both, International, and Inland. This is the view license candidates need, because the exam asks which jurisdiction says what.
KNOT LIBRARY
Bowline, cleat hitch, clove hitch, square knot, sheet bend, round turn and two half hitches, anchor bend. Each with its use case, the verbatim Boat Crew procedure, and a deep link back to the manual section that covers it.
SIGNAL FLAG DECODER
A 40 flag grid with the phonetic name and glyph for every flag, plus a multi flag hoist decoder. Type the hoist, get the meaning. Works offline.
QUALIFICATION CHECKLIST
42 Personnel Qualification Standards tasks across 10 categories including helmsmanship, navigation, engineering, communications, seamanship, first aid and damage control. Check off each task as you complete it. Every task deep links to the relevant Boat Crew Seamanship section so you can study it right there.
OFFLINE BY DESIGN
• Fully offline, no signal needed underway
• Dark, low light interface for the wheelhouse at night
• Fast search across all three references at once
• Bookmarks and recently viewed sections
• Progress saved on your device
SAFETY DISCLAIMER
This app is a study and reference tool. NOT FOR PRIMARY NAVIGATION. Always consult current official publications, Local Notices to Mariners, and current charts when actually underway. Maritime regulations are updated weekly, so verify any operationally significant rule or procedure against the current source.
ATTRIBUTION
The Navigation Rules Handbook and Boat Crew Seamanship Manual are US Coast Guard publications and the International Code of Signals is an NGA publication, all works of the United States Government in the public domain. This app is an independent product with no government affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement.
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What's New in USCG Navigation Rules Handbook
1.0.12
September 6, 2026
Renamed. Coxswain HQ is now USCG Navigation Rules Handbook, after the reference at its core. Same app, same free library, same one time unlock. Nothing was removed. New nautical chart backdrop throughout: compass rose, rhumb lines, soundings and a dashed channel. Polish and small fixes.
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In-App Purchases
$0.99
Coxswain Pro
All crew tools: signal decoder, knots & PQS.






