Rule 5 - Look-out

Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out

by sight and hearing as well as by all available means
appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and
conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation
and of the risk of collision.

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www.ibabuzz.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
! Key words

Every vessel
At all times
By day, at night, restricted visibility, etc.

Proper look-out
By sight, hearing, all available means
Full appraisal
Of situation, of risk of collision
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Rule 5 - Look-out
! Every Vessel

Large vessels, small vessels, power driven

vessels, sailing vessels, vessels NUC,
vessels restricted in their ability to
maneuver, deep draught vessels, pilot
vessels, vessels at anchor, vessels
aground, etc.

www.biship.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
! At all times
By day, at night, in restricted visibility (ice,
smoke, storm, etc.
Never leave the bridge unless properly
relieved

Rule 5 - Look-out
At all Times
By Day
The OOW may be the only person on the bridge
provided he can call for immediate assistance

Rule 5 - Look-out
At all Times
At Night

At night the OOW should be assisted by at least one lookout man

When on automatic pilot, the course must be regularly
checked
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Rule 5 - Look-out
At all Times
In Restricted visibility
In restricted visibility one or two look-out man should be
posted where deemed necessary and a helmsman should
steer the vessel

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captrichardrodriguez.blogspot.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
At all Times
Also means:
In open seas (when apparently no other vessels or hazards
are observed), in congested waters, rivers, canals, near
harbours, ., when at anchor, NUC, dredging, fishing, ., in
heavy weather, etc.
In all these circumstances the watch should be adequately
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increased
confluence.org

Rule 5 - Look-out
At all Times
Never leave the bridge unattended unless properly relieved

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www2.bryceharrington.org

Rule 5 - Look-out
At all Times

Do not undertake administrative work (or similar) in the

chartroom. Perform only navigational work
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Rule 5 - Look-out
At all Times

Do not get distracted

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www.springhavenshops.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
! Proper look-out
By sight
By hearing
By all available means appropriate

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Proper look-out
By Sight - Vision

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gcaptain.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
Proper look-out
By Sight - Binoculars

The OOW must instruct the look-out man on what he should

report. Examples: any light, vessels, floating objects, sound
signals in restricted visibility or near manoeuvring vessels,
etc.
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www.opticsplanet.net

Rule 5 - Look-out
Whistle

Proper look-out
By Hearing

Bell

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www.cs.virginia.edu

Rule 5 - Look-out
Proper look-out
Fatigue
Do not fall asleep on the
bridge
Most accidents at sea
are caused by bad lookout or fatigue
www.sjofartsdir.no

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Relieving the watch

When relieving the watch the OOW and the look-out man
should assure themselves that their relieve is well acquainted
with the situation
Many accidents happened because the watch has been
unsatisfactorily or too hastily relieved
leadershiptrainingskills.com

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Where to post the look-out men

It entirely depends on the circumstances and situation at the time

He should preferably be posted outdoors
In restricted visibility and if safe, he should be posted on the forecastle
head

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friendships.org

Rule 5 - Look-out
Duties of the look-out man

Report any light

Report any vessel
Report any floating object
Report any sound signal (especially in restricted
visibility)
If necessary, use binoculars
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www.ship-paintings.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
By all available means appropriate

Radar,
AIS
Radar and sight
Radar and hearing
VHF

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www.nepia.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
All available means appropriate
Use of radar
In clear visibility
In restricted visibility
In operation or on standby
In congested waters
A proper lookout is still compulsory
Must be properly adjusted
Careful choice of scale range
Good choice of mode display
www.austin-insulators.com

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Use of AIS
There is no provision in the
Collision Regulations for the
use of AIS information.
Therefore, decisions should
be taken based primarily on
visual and/or radar
information

www.waypoints.com

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Rule 5 - Look-out
AIS Data

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www.fugawi.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
Use of VHF
VHF as a means of collision
avoidance should be used with
uppermost caution.
Although the use of VHF radio
may be justified on occasion as a
collision avoidance aid, the
provisions of the Collision
Regulations should remain
uppermost
www.fredsplace.org

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Follow all instructions given by STCW and other official bodies
(ICS Bridge Procedures Guide, Maritime and Coastguard
Agency, etc.)

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www.marineworksltd.com

www.marisec.org

Rule 5 - Look-out
! Full appraisal of the situation
Fitness for duty
The watch may not be impaired by fatigue
Watch keepers must be sufficiently rested prior to taking over the
watch
A safe navigational watch must be maintained at all times by
appropriately qualified and rested personnel in all foreseeable
circumstances
If regulations cannot be met, the vessel should be brought to or
should remain in a safe place (e.g. at anchor or in a harbour)
DO NOT FALL ASLEEP DURING YOUR WATCH

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gotosee.co.uk

Rule 5 - Look-out
! Full appraisal of the situation
Fitness for duty
Be at all time free from alcohol, drugs or any prescription drugs that may
impair your judgment
Stay alert at all time by moving around and ventilating the bridge
Do not forget that the risk of falling asleep is much greater when you
are on watch in a hot and closed-up bridge, especially in the winter
thebatt.com

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Risk of Collision
Observe all vessels
Keep an eye on own ship
Verify nautical instruments
Check the course (especially with auto pilot)

Be particularly vigilant when:

Meeting a vessel end on
Overtaking another vessel

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bowsprite.wordpress.com

Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
LOOK AHEAD

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
Look on the
starboard side

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
Look on the
port side

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
Look behind
the vessel

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
In case of doubt call the master
The Master must be on the bridge in all special
circumstance :
Restricted visibility
Bad weather
Heavy traffic
Entering or leaving a harbour
Etc.

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
Maintain a proper look-out even when the pilot is on board

Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
If necessary, use a qualified helmsman
The helmsman should not perform the duties
of the look-out man

zandrea.taylorfamilyconnect.com

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
Do not get distracted on the
bridge by
Domestic radios
Recorders (CD, MP3, )
Personal computers
TV
Mobile phones
Visits
Etc.
media.nieuwslog.nl

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch
Check your position regularly
Look for hazards on the chart (buoys, rocks, shallow, etc.)
which may form an impediment if a sudden action is
necessary to avoid a collision

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Full appraisal of the situation
Performing the navigational watch

Never trust and/or rely on the action or reaction of

another vessel
According to his experience, every OOW has his
own understanding of :
Risk of collision
Limitations of own vessel or vessel (s) sighted
The development of a close quarters situation
Etc.

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en.wilkipedia.org

Rule 5 - Look-out
! Duties of the officer of the watch
Observe all vessels
Ascertain the risk of collision
Keep an eye on your own ship
!
!

Verify nautical instruments

Check the course (especially with auto pilot)

Be particularly vigilant when:

!
!

Meeting a vessel end on

Overtaking another vessel
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Rule 5 - Look-out
! Duties of the officer of the watch

Continue to be responsible despite:

!
!

The presence of the Master (unless he takes over)

The presence of a pilot

If in doubt of pilots actions, seek clarification

If still in doubt, notify Master and take
whatever action until Master arrives
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Rule 5 - Look-out
Duties of the officer of the watch
Be able to switch to hand steering at all times
Use the radar whenever necessary
Check vessels position, course and speed
regularly
Take fixes at regular intervals
Use appropriate and corrected charts

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Vessel at anchor

Determine and plot vessels position

Check if vessel is remaining at anchor
Have a proper look-out
Make inspection rounds periodically

Observe:
Meteorological conditions
Tidal conditions
State of sea

Notify Master and take measures if anchor drags

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Rule 5 - Look-out
Vessel at anchor
Ensure that main engines and
other machinery are always ready
Ensure that proper lights are
exhibited
Ensure that proper shapes are
exhibited
Ensure that proper sound signals
are made

www.prestonservices.co.uk

Avoid placing reliance on guard

zones when using radar in lieu of a
look-out
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