Look-out, Safe Speed & Risk of Collision
Rule 2 — Responsibility
Nothing in the Rules exonerates any vessel, owner, master or crew from the consequences of neglect to comply with the Rules, or of neglect of any precaution required by the ordinary practice of seamen.
Rule 2(b) — the general prudential rule — permits a departure from the Rules where necessary to avoid immediate danger. It is a last resort, not a shortcut around give-way duties.
Rule 5 — Look-out
Maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances.
Radar, ARPA and AIS supplement, never replace, the visual look-out. AIS data is self-reported and may be wrong or absent.
Rule 6 — Safe Speed
Safe speed is that speed at which you can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and stop within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances.
Factors: visibility, traffic density, manoeuvrability (stopping distance and turning ability), background light at night, sea state, draught relative to depth, and radar limitations.
Rule 7 — Risk of Collision
Use all available means. Long-range scanning with radar gives early warning. Do not assume on scanty information, especially scanty radar information.
Risk is deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change. Risk may exist even with an appreciable bearing change — for example with a very large vessel, a tow, or a close-range approach.
End-of-module quiz
1. A steady compass bearing with decreasing range indicates:
2. Safe speed under Rule 6 is primarily determined by:
3. Rule 2(b) allows a departure from the Rules:
4. AIS information should be treated as:
5. Long-range radar scanning is used to: