NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: US Official: USS Fitzgerald Crew Likely at Fault
From: Bill B
Date: 2017 Jul 23, 14:59 -0400
From: Bill B
Date: 2017 Jul 23, 14:59 -0400
On 7/22/2017 8:43 PM, Michael Martin wrote: > When we mention COLREGS which Article would both Bridge watchCommanders > would be finally be held accountable for not following Section 8 or 18 Rule 5 is the primary lookout reference and applies in both inland and international waters in any visibility conditions. "Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and or the risk of collision." After that the chain of command on who receives the lookouts' information and issues orders on how to act/react on the information in accordance with Rules 8, and rules 13 through 18 (as well as any other rules which may be applicable) may vary. Ultimately it is the captain's responsibility (even if someone decided to not inform the captain of the situation) and the buck stops there. For example, if one of the captain's officers assigned a sailor who was not trained or competent to a post, it is still in the "old man's" lap. You can download a PDF version of COLREGS at: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/navrules/navrules.pdf
