In 1980, the "Inland Navigational Rules Act" was enacted by Congress using the 1972 International Rules of the Road as a starting point. The Act looked at the then separate sets of inland regulations such as Western Rivers, Great Lakes, Inland, etc. and combined them into the rules we know today.  All 38  international rules were adopted, in many parts word-for-word, into today's inland rules.

The first line of the look-out rule starts with "shall at all times maintain a proper look-out".  Though this may seem self evident, maintaining a proper look-out refers to all times when the vessel is in a position where other vessels may operate.  If your tow becomes weather-bound, pushed into the bank, due to the conditions described, the wheelhouse must remain manned to provide a look-out. 

You have all heard of the scenario where a tow tied to the bank swings out into the channel and interferes with a passing tow. The follow up investigation often finds that no one was in the wheelhouse of the tied up vessel.  Though stationary and parallel to the bank, this tow is still required to have a "proper look-out".

Next the text says that a vessel must is a "proper look-out by sight".  In the case of towboats, Congress has deemed that a pilot can serve as his own look-out.  To do this though, Congress states that the vessel must have an "unobstructed all-around view" from the pilot's station.   It goes on to say that the vessel may "not necessarily need a separate look-out other than the pilot" but that a separate look-out may be eliminated only after "all relevant factors" including traffic, weather, etc are "carefully assessed".

To begin with, to have an unobstructed all-around view from the pilots station, the wheelman on watch while serving as his own look-out needs to be pro-active.  With a general towboat design, there can be visual obstructions if the pilot remains in one place, glued to the seat.  In a wheelhouse environment, the pilot station can be defined as the immediate area the pilot uses to navigate the tow.

To assess the situation in our fall weather scenario, the wheelman may need to leave his "pilots chair" to best view the areas around him as the rain comes in.  Situational awareness dictates that a good pilot is constantly assessing the operation and adjusting accordingly.

Since a pilot can serve as his own look-out only after "all relevant factors are carefully assessed", the need to call out a separate look-out may be needed more often than not.  During times of reduced visibility such as fog and rain, as described in our example, calling out your deck crew to serve as a look-out should always be considered.  The courts have ruled that the decision to call out the extra look-out should always be left up to the wheelman on watch since they are in the best situation to assess the need. Having an extra set of eyes are never wrong.

The crewmember assigned to look-out duties should also be trained in the requirements of his duties.  See the March 23, 2011 issue of the Higman Training Newsletter for specific look-out duties.  The crewman must be stationed in the area appropriate to the conditions.  That could mean in the wheelhouse if weather conditions dictate or on the head of the tow if transiting an area of heavy pleasure boat traffic.

Maintaining a proper look-out includes hearing.  Constant radio monitoring is part of that job and is considered fulfilling the hearing part of the requirement.

Finally, Rule 5 dictates using "all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision". 

"All available means" goes beyond human senses and includes all electronic sensors and communications equipment.  Radars need to be on the proper scales and tuned for the conditions.  Radios need to be turned on and tuned to the correct stations.  AIS units should be up to date with the proper output information.  Whatever is available to you as pilot to enhance your situational awareness needs has to be used.

Advanced Wheelhouse Management (Aka Simulator), have you been recently? There are only two sessions left this year. October 17-19 and December 12-14.

The course is very important to rounding out your pilotage skills. This course helps explain the scientific reasons your vessel reacts to under water clearances, winds, currents, other vessels, etc. The course reviews different pilot skills as well as how to manage the wheelhouse. How do you deal with all the distractions? What are some of the legal ramifications to the actions you make?

It doesn't matter if you're a green pilot of six months, or a 20 year veteran, Advanced Wheelhouse Management can help keep you at your best. Contact Kelly to sign up.