Building safety culture: Dos and don’ts for safe navigation

The ‘Together in Safety’ initiative has established 10 Golden Safety Rules that can assist towards a zero accident industry, presenting best and worst practices during any operation onboard. Among others, the initiative tackles with ensuring navigational safety, highlighting always to obey collision regulations, supplement nav aids with visual/manual checks plan and execute plan and keep a proper lookout.

Maintaining a proper lookout is a vital element of good watchkeeping practice, particularly when visibility is restricted. A proper lookout by sight and hearing should involve the use of all available means, to detect the presence of other vessels. According to AMSA, until 2020, and over the past 26 years, 41 collisions were due to failure to maintain a proper lookout and to take early avoiding action as common contributing factors to collisions.

5 tips to keep a proper lookout

#1 Maintain regular visual scans of the  horizon (360 degrees)

#2 Use vessel’s radar properly

#3 Use AIS to locate targets in the area and transmit accurate data

#4 Ensure a quiet wheelhouse to allow for VHF radio calls and sound signals to be heard

#5 Use any other available means to maintain good situational awareness.

For safe navigation, keep in mind:

ALWAYS

• Look out of the window;

• Obey Collision regulations;

• Comply with work/ rest hours;

• Maintain a safe distance from grounding lines;

• Supplement nav aids with visual/manual checks;

• Execute passage as per plan;

• Calculate enough Under Keel Clearance including dynamic factors such as Squat.

NEVER

• Allow accidents caused by fatigue;

• Accept ECDIS/ AIS tracking information without independent checking;

• Proceed at unsafe speed in heavy traffic or restricted visibility;

• Allow yourself to be distracted;

• Use a cellphone while on Navigational watch.