Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 65 views

    MGN 137 (M+F) : Look-Out During Periods of Darkness and Restricted Visibility

    Uploaded by

    Polaris Bridgeman
    This marine guidance note reminds ship operators and masters of the legal requirements for maintaining a proper look-out, especially during periods of darkness or low visibility. It notes a recent accident involving a container ship where lack of a proper look-out may have been a factor. Masters are advised to post an additional look-out other than the officer on watch during darkness to avoid legal liability for any accidents from an improper look-out. Failure to maintain a proper look-out could endanger ships and people as well as lead to prosecution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    MGN 137 (M+F) : Look-Out During Periods of Darkness and Restricted Visibility

    Uploaded by

    Polaris Bridgeman
    65 views2 pages
    This marine guidance note reminds ship operators and masters of the legal requirements for maintaining a proper look-out, especially during periods of darkness or low visibility. It notes a recent accident involving a container ship where lack of a proper look-out may have been a factor. Masters are advised to post an additional look-out other than the officer on watch during darkness to avoid legal liability for any accidents from an improper look-out. Failure to maintain a proper look-out could endanger ships and people as well as lead to prosecution.

    Original Description:

    na

    Original Title

    Mgn 0137

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This marine guidance note reminds ship operators and masters of the legal requirements for maintaining a proper look-out, especially during periods of darkness or low visibility. It notes a recent accident involving a container ship where lack of a proper look-out may have been a factor. Masters are advised to post an additional look-out other than the officer on watch during darkness to avoid legal liability for any accidents from an improper look-out. Failure to maintain a proper look-out could endanger ships and people as well as lead to prosecution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    65 views2 pages

    MGN 137 (M+F) : Look-Out During Periods of Darkness and Restricted Visibility

    Uploaded by

    Polaris Bridgeman
    This marine guidance note reminds ship operators and masters of the legal requirements for maintaining a proper look-out, especially during periods of darkness or low visibility. It notes a recent accident involving a container ship where lack of a proper look-out may have been a factor. Masters are advised to post an additional look-out other than the officer on watch during darkness to avoid legal liability for any accidents from an improper look-out. Failure to maintain a proper look-out could endanger ships and people as well as lead to prosecution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    MARINE GUIDANCE NOTE

    MGN 137 (M+F)


    Look-out During Periods of Darkness and
    Restricted Visibility
    Note to shipowners, operators, masters, skippers, deck officers and crews of all UK ships
    anywhere, and other ships operating in UK waters.
    This Note should be read in conjunction with Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1682(M) or any
    subsequent amendment

    Summary
    This Note is a reminder to all UK ships wherever they may be and other ships operating in UK
    territorial waters, of the legal requirements for keeping a proper look-out, especially during the hours
    of darkness.
    time being responsible for the conduct of the
    ship, is liable to prosecution in the event of a
    contravention.

    1. Following a recent serious casualty in UK


    territorial waters involving a container ship,
    which resulted in the loss of the vessel and
    her cargo as well as oil pollution, the MCA
    reminds operators and masters that all UK
    ships, wherever they may be, and other ships
    in UK territorial waters, are strongly advised
    not to operate with the officer of the
    navigational watch acting as the sole look-out
    during periods of darkness. An additional
    look-out should also be posted at any other
    time during restricted visibility or when the
    prevailing circumstances indicate such action
    is in the interests of safety.

    3. Failure to maintain a proper look-out may


    also endanger the ship or persons, and
    render the master or responsible officer
    liable to prosecution under section 58 of the
    Merchant Shipping Act 1995. A 12 month
    custodial sentence was recently imposed on
    the Chief Mate of a cargo ship, in that he
    failed to maintain a safe navigational watch
    as a result of drunkenness and disabling the
    watch alarm system. The vessel had run
    aground resulting in 100,000 worth of
    damage.

    2. All UK ships wherever they may be, and


    other ships in UK waters, are required under
    the Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and
    Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 to
    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.
    The owner, master and any person for the

    4. Masters of UK ships and other ships when in


    UK waters (other than fishing vessels and
    pleasure craft) are also reminded of the
    requirements in the Merchant Shipping (Safe
    Manning, Hours of Work and Watchkeeping)
    Regulations 1997. These requirements are to
    ensure that the watchkeeping arrangements
    for the ship are at all times adequate for

    maintaining safe navigational watches,


    having regard to the STCW Code section
    A-VIII, and to give directions to deck
    watchkeeping officers in accordance with Part
    3 of that section. Having regard to STCW 95,
    masters ought not to operate with the officer

    of the navigational watch acting as sole lookout during periods of darkness and restricted
    visibility. Depending on the circumstances,
    such operation may run a serious risk of
    rendering the owner and master liable to
    prosecution under the 1997 Regulations.

    Seafarers Standards Branch


    Maritime and Coastguard Agency
    Spring Place
    105, Commercial Road
    Southampton SO15 1EG
    Tel: 023 80 329231
    Fax: 023 80 329252
    Email: [email protected]
    May 2000
    An executive agency of the Department of the
    Environment, Transport and the Regions

    MC 34/30/010

    You might also like