The importance of rules and regulations relative to the navigation of all shapes and sizes of ships, from fishing boat pleasure dinghies to elegant yachts to large container ships, is critical to the safe operation of military, commercial, and personal vessels.
Two essential resources available from the U.S. Government Bookstore that all waterway users need to keep on board their vessels for safe navigation are the Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook and the U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook.
The Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook is a crucial reference for anyone operating a vessel on navigable waterways. It 
outlines the international and inland regulations that govern safe navigation and prevent collisions at sea.
Here’s a breakdown of some key points about the Handbook:
- Content: It contains the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (commonly called the 72 COLREGS) and the Inland Navigation Rules.
- Purpose: Promotes safety on the water by providing mariners with a clear understanding of the rules they must follow.
- Authority: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) publishes the official version, and it meets their carriage requirements for certain sized vessels.
The U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook (IMH) is designed to assist Coast Guard personnel in using the Incident Command System (ICS) during response operations. The IMH is intended to be an easy reference job aid for responders. It is not a policy document but rather guidance for response personnel. The handbook is laid out so that the generic information applicable to all responses is presented up-front.
Remember, staying updated on navigation rules is essential for safe boating.
The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications
HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?
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Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.
- Click here to purchase Navigation Rules And Regulations Handbook
- Click here to purchase U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook
Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800. Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov
Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.
Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.
About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publications and Information Sales Office.
Images and additional content provided by Government Book Talk Editor Trudy Hawkins. Trudy is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).
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