NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Lookout by Sound
From: Jeremy C
Date: 2009 Oct 16, 06:41 EDT
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From: Jeremy C
Date: 2009 Oct 16, 06:41 EDT
Ah the navy, with the hordes on the bridge. We "merchies" don't have
such luxuries (although I think everyone is using navigational radar these
days). The "lookout by sound" always seemed a bit of a stretch for me in
most cases. What exactly are we listening for? Horns? Bells?
Seagulls? By the time I actually hear most of these, even a LOUD ship's
whistle, I am probably well into imminent danger on a 600 foot merchant ship as
the range of hearing is no better than a mile and that is assuming no wind
howling over the bridge wing. By the time I hear a bell buoy, it is just
off the rail about amidships; and this is on an open bridge wing. What if
I am in the actual bridge navigating/maneuvering? (many new ships have
totally enclosed bridge/wing's with NO outside deck). You can't hear much
in there, even with the doors open.
While trying not to totally disregard looking out by sound, I have to put
it into perspective, and understand that my best lookout by sound is a close
watch on the VHF radio for stations calling me, not listening for whistle
signals or navaids. I have a lot of data coming at me constantly up there
and sound data is at the bottom of the list. I have to rely mostly on my
eyes and instruments for both navigation and collision avoidance. The only
time I may try to get another person on the bridge to help listen is in serious
fog where I can't see the bow. (In that case I might have 4 people up there
including the Master).
Jeremy
In a message dated 10/15/2009 2:32:45 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
byronink@netzero.com writes:
I don't want to hit hard on this BUT the ears of the lookout should be
an important part of the lookout job. From the "Watch Officers
Guide." "See that they have some means of rapid commuications with the
bridge; they should not, however, wear phones.'(use voice tube)
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