BCM BASICS - MAINTAINING LOOKOUT

Question 1

Purpose of a Lookout

Answer 1

Maintain all-around situational awareness and reports

Question 2

Lookout Assignments

Answer 2

Lookouts SHALL be designated and assigned prior to navigation or transiting. A lookout can not leave station or their duty until properly relieved.

Question 3

What Rule is Lookout and what does it say?

Answer 3

RULE 5 - LOOKOUT
Every vessel shall at all times maintain proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as all available means necessary to determine if risk of collision exists.

Question 4

What are objects a Lookout can detect but not radar?

Answer 4

Seas, Visibility, Small objects or wooden. Visual aids or geographic references. Unknown Odors, Sound Signals, Etc.

Question 5

Explain Dark Adaptation when it comes to maintaining a Lookout.

Answer 5

Human eye will contract to reduce white light in during day, at night a persons eye will take approximately take 30 mins til they achieve effective “night vision” sight. Any introduction of white light can cause the eye to have to recycle and adjust. This can be filtered by blue/red lighting.

Caffeine has been shown to prolong the 30 minutes it takes for adaption.

Question 6

Explain Off-Center Vision

Answer 6

During extreme periods of night where there may be a lot of backlighting, you can reduce light exposure using your off-side of your vision to help see a contact that may not be seen directly.

Question 7

True Vs. Relative Bearing

Answer 7

True is based on the direction/bearing of an object or vessel by reference of navigational bearing.

Relative bearing is based on the reference of your own vessel, i.e. our bow is 000° so a vessel at my STBD beam would be 090° relative.

Question 8

If we are on a course of 185°T and we spot vessel off our starboard bow, what could the True Bearing be?

A: 020T
B. 040T
C. 170T
D. 205T

Answer 8

D. 205°T

Question 9

If we are steering a course of 080°T and a contact is matching our course and speed off our Starboard Beam, What Relative Bearing is this?
A. 270°
B. 170°
C. 090°
D. 080°

Answer 9

C. 090°
Since we are 080°T, this is irrelevant in that in “relative” bearing our bow is always 000° so a vessel that lies directly on our Starboard Beam would be at 090° out of 360°

Question 10

A Lookout out should always give a report in ______ bearing.

Answer 10

Relative

Question 11

What is Target Angle?

Answer 11

with a Target Angle, the report is given as if you were referencing our vessels aspect from the contacts bridge.

Question 12

Position Angle

Answer 12

Used with reference of your arm extended in a fist and fingers for angle to determine air contacts or flares.

Question 13

What is Zenith?

Answer 13

Reference to when an air-contact is directly overhead.

Question 14

What are the Responsibilities of a Lookout during MOB?

Answer 14

The lookout is the “Designated Lookout/Pointer” in a man-overboard and is to NOT take eyes off the contact. They are responsible to ulitize relative aspects/bearings to help the Coxswain gain visual. As a pointer this is your only duty until Coxswain has visual. It is best practice to make yourself openly visible to the coxswain and use your arm to guide that bearing.

Question 15

What are the (03) Vessel Situations to be on the Lookout for?

Answer 15

Overtaking (Rule 13)
Head-On (Rule 14)
Crossing (Rule 15)

Question 16

Explain Identifying a Overtaking Situation

Answer 16

Any 2 Vessels, In-Sight

Exceeds 22.5° Abaft the Beam. At night would see a white sternlight.

Question 17

Explain Identifying a Crossing Situation

Answer 17

Two Power Driven Vessels (Only) and In-sight. Contact will have constant bearing and decreasing range (CBDR).

Question 18

Explain Identifying a Head-On (Meeting)

Answer 18

Only two power-driven vessels, in sight. On or near reciprocal courses. At night you would see both navigational running lights.

Question 19

Can you have a Crossing Situation during Restricted Visibility?

Answer 19

No. situations are only Vessels in-sight.

Question 20

Can two power-driven vessels be in a head-on situation?

Answer 20

Yes.

Question 21

Can a Sailboat be in an Overtaking Situation with a Power-Driven vessel?

Answer 21

Yes. any two vessels can be in an overtaking, where head-on or crossing is only power-driven.

Question 22

Can a vessel engaged in fishing be in a head-on situation with a power-driven vessel?

Answer 22

No. Only Two-Power Driven Vessels can be in a crossing or head-on situation. Fishing vessel shall not be impeded per Rule 18.

Question 23

How is a proper Lookout report made?

Answer 23

(minimum)
Contact-Bearing-Range
(then)
aspect-bearing drift
Example:
I have a 20' Cabin Cruiser bearing 040 Relative at 400 yds. Port Bow aspect. Left-Bearing Drift.

Question 24

What is a vessel’s aspect?

Answer 24

The physical structural characteristic in regards to the side of the vessel you are visually seeing. If you see the left-side of the vessel an aspect would be their “port beam”

Question 25

What is a vessel’s Bearing Drift?

Answer 25

the direction in which the vessel is tending relative to you. If a vessel is off your starboard bow and is crossing your bow this would be a “left bearing drift”

Easy tool: Looking at the contact, what side your head is turning while watching them is usually the bearing drift side.