Having good sight lines is vital to your safety, but also to that of other boats and people on the water. The boat operator must maintain proper watchfulness when they are at sea. The ship’s operator must always keep a proper lookout, either by sight or hearing.
The responsibility for keeping a proper lookout while boating lies with the operator of the vessel and not the subordinates to whom they might delegate it. This maximizes boating safety because it ensures that the operator abstains from directing the boat in ways that would disrupt their own lookout.
For that reason, it is prudent that boat operators obey established navigational rules, particularly maintaining a good sight line and maintaining safe speeds. The Responsibility Rule requires that all boat operators be aware of and follow the Navigation Rules at all times.
Expert Guidance for Guiding Boats
All boats shall operate with a reasonable speed given conditions and circumstances and should remain fully under operator control at all times. Vessels approaching or passing another ship must operate to and at a rate that does not cause dangerous washing or wake. No mechanically propelled vessel shall be used at such speed that it shall traverse the path around any other ship in progress or that of any swimming person.
When, for any reason, the vessel required to maintain course and speed finds itself in a position such as a collision cannot be avoided by the actions of the ship giving way only, the operator shall employ such measures that would best serve to avert a collision.
Suppose it is necessary to avoid a collision or provide fadditionaltime to assess the situation. In that case, a vessel must reduce her speed or cut her power completely by stopping or reversing her means of propulsion. If an operator cannot wholly assess the course of the approaching vessel, they should slow immediately to a speed that is just enough for steering until the other ship has passed.
No person, in any case, should ever steer the vessel beyond an established speed limit or the tack-windage area. Operators of pleasure crafts that are out of view of other vessels or within or near a zone of limited visibility must operate at safe speeds tailored to prevailing circumstances and conditions.
Advice for Recreational Boaters
As the operator of a pleasure vessel, you are responsible for operating the ship safely and prudently, at a speed at which you can take appropriate and effective actions to avoid a collision. It is the responsibility of each vessel operator to navigate reasonably and prudently to prevent a crash, taking into consideration the weather, shipping traffic, and limits of other vessels. As a boat operator, you must take all available measures to determine collision risks.
You need to be able to see clearly all of your surroundings and recognize whether there is any danger of colliding with another boat or an obstacle.
As a vessel operator, you are responsible for being aware of your surroundings in all boats. Every operator should adhere to navigational rules for ships whenever they come across other vessels. Every operator should maintain a good watch, using sight and sound, at all times.
While doing everything you can to maintain good vision, most boaters are trying to do the same, so you mustn’t make things harder for them. Keeping a proper lookout does not take extra effort from you, and you can only do good things, so you will want to ensure you or someone else is always acting as the lookout. While it is up to each Mariner to decide how to keep adequate attention, the Captain’s job is to ensure each crew member is trained and knows what is expected of them, and the equipment is in good working condition.
The captain must evaluate what is needed for the ship and ensure everyone assigned lookout duties has and knows how to operate, equipment – and what type of information is expected of operators. If her boat is used cooperatively, with the occupants maintaining some proactive responsibility and oversight for some aspects of the sailing, a clear separation of duties still needs to occur, and lookout duties are permanently assigned and fulfilled. It would help if you considered all other circumstances when managing your boat’s operations.
Collision Regulations and Boating Practices
The collision regulations say that at all times, you should be a reasonable operator, taking account of prevailing conditions and local restrictions. According to Rule 5 of The International Rules of Practice on Preventing Collision at Sea, Every ship, whether we are talking about a tiny pontoon or a cruise liner, must keep its eyes open.
A vessel is approaching or being approached by a maritime law enforcement vessel with flashing blue lights or a siren. A marine law enforcement vessel with flashing blue lights or a siren needs to slow down immediately and change its course so that it does not hinder the operations of the law enforcement vessel (OAR 250-011-0005(6)).
These officers have full police authority and the right to lawfully stop and board your boat anytime to check for proper registration and required safety equipment. Operators shall reduce speed to avoid endangering persons or property by the wake of the motorboat when approaching or passing vessels underway, lying to, at anchor, or making a fast approach to shore; or when approaching or passing piers, docks, or boat houses; or when approaching or passing persons in the water or using water skis or surfboards.
A safe speed is less than the maximum speed at which the operator can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and stop within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. Boat operators shall operate at a safe speed, or using a watercraft that is underway, lying on or in motion, or using a boathouse; or, while approaching or passing persons on board, a watercraft occupied or using boathouses, or using waterskis or surfing boards.
A safe speed is a speed below a maximum at which the operator may perform appropriately and stop at an acceptable rate under prevailing circumstances and conditions. Boat operators must adhere to posted speed limits. Boat operators shall operate at safe speeds. Boat operators shall operate at safe speeds. Boat operators must adhere to posted speed limits.
For example, some state regulations require that you keep your speed to “no wake” within 250 feet of the shoreline or within 100 feet of another boat. Many states have speed and distance regulations determining how close you may be operating within spaces to other vessels, the shoreline or marina areas, and swim areas. Maintaining means you or another person in the boat must constantly watch the surrounding area of other ships, people in the water, and any other possible obstacles. When acting both as a lookout and driver, sometimes it isn’t easy to keep your heading straight and also keep an eye out for what is happening behind the boat, which is why you may wish to add a video camera on the back of your boat.
