PHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK/YMPHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK/YMPHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK/YM
PHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK/YM
The offi cer on watch keeps a visual
lookout for close-quarters pilotage.
At sea, that probably won’t be the caseEXPERT ON BOARD
22 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com APRIL 2016What cruisers
need to know
W
hen under way in the
vicinity of commercial
shipping, the small craft’s
overriding priority is to remain
safe. Avoid impeding the progress
of larger vessels in situations
that may include crossing a
busy shipping lane, meeting in
a narrow channel or sharing the
same congested stretch of water.
The need to maintain a good
all-round lookout is fundamental
to sound seamanship and, given
good visibility and a moderate
sea state, the cruiser’s low
vantage point will almost always
mean they will see a large vessel
before the big ship sees them.
A ship’s hull silhouetted against
the skyline by day and the bright
navigation lights of power-driven
vessels by night give the small
boat sailor time to determine if
risk of collision exists.
The Collision Regulations
thereafter determine the
appropriate action to be taken.
If avoiding action is necessary,
every experienced sailor will befamiliar with the need to ensure
it is made in good time, that it is
substantial, readily apparent to
the other vessel and made well
before a close-quarters situation
arises. Most merchant ships
proceed at speeds that vary from
as little as 8 knots to about 16, but
some go much faster. A modern
container ship could for instance
be propelling at 20 knots or more
and this can mean that the time
taken to cover the distance from
the apparent horizon to being
worryingly close is no more than
about 12-15 minutes. Keeping agood lookout is not just confi ned
to the initial detection but at all
times thereafter until any risk of
collision is over. Merchant ships
will alter course to navigate
safely, and anticipating such
alterations comes with experience
as well as local knowledge.View from the bridge
Whilst assessing what action, if
any, needs to be taken, the small-
boat watchkeeper can benefi t
from understanding what their
opposite number on the bridge
of the larger ship is having tocope with as they go about their
normal business.
Except when under way in
pilotage or congested waters,
the big ship offi cer of the watch
(OOW) will, most likely, be alone
on the bridge with both steering
and propulsion in automatic
control. This means they are
dealing with navigation, reacting
to alarms, monitoring onboard
mechanical and electrical
systems, dealing with incoming
signal traffi c and navigation
warnings, as well as maintaining a
good lookout using every means
available. Despite its importance,
looking out of the window is not
always the top priority.
Most professional seafarers
do their best to carry out their
duties conscientiously but, given
the economics of the industry,
unfortunately they can be hard
pressed to do so. Some owners
are forever looking for ways to
cut costs in a fi ercely competitive
industry, and quite often they do
so by reducing manpower to the
absolute bare minimum.
This can mean that thoseAIS and radar improve your ability to keep a
lookout. An AIS transceiver and active RTE ensure
your presence is known by marine traffi cPHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK/YM