COLREGS 3: Part B, Section I overview and Rules 4 and 5
Conduct of vessels in any condition of visibility
Part B is titled ‘Steering and Sailing Rules’ and consists of Sections I, II and III. This article gives an overview of Section I and tackles the first two rules of this section; Rules 4 and 5.
Relevant documents and M-notices: MSN 1781, MGN 137, MGN 315, MGN 369
Section I (Rules 4-10), as is clearly stated in Rule 4 - Application, applies in any condition of visibility. This is distinct from Section II (Conduct of vessels in sight of one another) and Section III (Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility).
Rule 4
Rules in this Section apply in any condition of visibility.
This is straightforward enough. Whether you can see the horizon all round or you can’t see your own bow, rules 4-10 apply. Day or night, good weather or poor weather.
Rule 5
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 of the risk of collision.
Let’s go into this rule in some depth, because it’s relevant to the way we structure watches on ship and to how we allocate personnel.