18 DE ABRIL DE 1998

1044-(173)

The officer of the navigational watch shall take into account:

1) The need to station a person to steer the ship and to put the steering into manual control in good time to allow any potentially hazardous situation to be dealt with in a safe manner; and

2) Thar with a ship under automatic steering it is nighty dangerous to allow a situation to develop to the

point where the officer in charge of the navigational watch is without assistance and has to break the continuity of the look-out in order to take emergency action.

36 — Officers of the navigational watch shall be throughly familiar with the use of all. electronic navigational aids carried, including their capabilities and limitations, and shall use each of these aids when appropriate and shall bear in mind that the echo-sounder is a valuable navigational aid.

37 — The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall use the radar whenever restricted visibility is encountered or expected, and at all times in congested waters having due regard to its limitations.

38 — The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall ensure that range scales employed are changed at sufficiently frequent intervals so that echoes are detected as early as possible. It shall be borne in mind that small or poor echoes may escape detection.

39 — Whenever radar is in use, the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall select an appropriate range scale and observe the display carefully, and shall ensure that plotting or systematic analysis is commenced in ample time.

40 — The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall notify the master immediately:

1) If restricted visibility is encountered or expected;

2) If the traffic conditions or the movements of other ships are causing concern;

3) If difficulty is experienced in maintaining course;

4) On failure to sight land, a navigation mark or to obtain soundings by the expected time;

5) If, unexpectedly, land or a navigation mark is sighted or a change in soundings occurs;

6) On breakdown of the engines, propulsion machinery remote control, steering gear or any essential navigational equipment, alarm or indicator;

' 7) If the radio equipment malfunctions;

8) In heavy weather, if in any doubt about the possibility of weather damage;

9) If the ship meets any hazard to navigation, such as ice or a derelict; and

10) In any other emergency or if in any doubt.

41 — Despite the requirement to notify the master immediately in the foregoing circumstances, the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall in addition not hesitate to take immediate action for the safety of the ship, where circumstances so require.

42 — The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall give watchkeeping personnel all appropriate instructions and information which will ensure the keeping of a safe watch, including a proper look-out.

Watchkeeping under different conditions and in different areas Clear weather

43 — The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall take frequent and accurate compass bearings of approaching ships as a means of early detection of risk of collision and bear in mind that such risk may some-

times exist even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a very large ship or a tow or when approaching a ship at close range. The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall also take early and positive action in compliance with

the applicable International Regulations for Preventing

Collisions at Sea, 1972, and subsequently check that such

action is having the desired effect.

44 — In clear weather, whenever possible, the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall carry out radar practice.

Restricted visibility

45 — When restricted visibility is encountered or expected, the first responsibility of the officer in charge of the navigational watch is to comply with the relevant rules of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, with particular regard to the sounding of fog signals, proceeding at a safe speed and having the engines ready for immediate manoeuvre. In addition, the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall:

1) Inform the master;

2) Post a proper look-out;

3) Exhibit navigation lights; and

4) Operate and use the radar.

In hours of darkness

46 — The master and the officer in charge of the navigational watch when arranging look-out duty shall have due regard to the bridge equipment and navigational aids available for use, their limitations; procedures and safeguards implemented.

Coastal and congested waters

47 — The largest scale chart on board, suitable for the area and corrected with the latest available information, shall be used. Fixes shall be taken at frequent intervals, and shall be carried out by more than one method whenever circumstances allow.

48 — The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall positively identify all relevant navigation marks.

Navigation with pilot on board

49 — Despite the duties and obligations of pilots, their presence on board does not relieve the master or officer in charge of the navigational watch from their duties and obligations for the safety of the ship. The master and the pilot shall exchange information regarding navigation procedures, local conditions and the ship's characteristics. The master and/or the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall co-operate closely with the pilot and maintain an accurate check on the ship's position and movement.

50 — If in any doubt as to the pilot's actions or intentions, the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall seek clarification from the pilot and, if doubt still exists, shall notify the master immediately and take whatever action is necessary before the master arrives.

Ship at anchor

51 — If the master considers it necessary, a contii)'

uous navigational watch shall be maintained at anchor.