ColRegs and solo sailors

oldbilbo

oldbilbo

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There's talk - in the magazines and elsewhere - of improving the ColRegs to take account of both modern and obsolete technology, the changed practices of professional seamen, and the needs of those thousands who now use the seas for recreation.....

The arguments about Rule 5 and the impossibility it being scrupulously observed by solo sailors continue...

Rule 5 requires that "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.'
Click to expand...

It is abundantly clear that people WILL continue to sail solo, and have done since before Joshua Slocum sailed 'Alone Around The World'.... as did Sir RKJ, Sir F Chichester, Jean Socrates, the fleet of 'Les Ministes' in Mini650s now heading for Guadeloupe, and quite a few others.

It is also abundantly clear that many fully-crewed merchant ships routinely do not 'maintain a proper lookout....by all available means', as evidenced by the numerous collisions and strandings each year.

So, what could or should the 21st Century yachtsman do to enhance his ( her? ) chances of meeting the primary objective of the ColRegs - avoidance of a collision at sea - with especial regard to Rule 5, harnessing today's technology? How can we, in our own best interests, do better in terms of 'see and be seen' or otherwise be adequately observed?
 
I think the colregs are sufficiently all encompassing and sufficiently vague enough to survive without change even taking into account modern technology. The fact they state that a look out must be maintained at all times, using all available means, ensures that.

The solo sailing aspect I don't think can ever be satisfactorily answered.
 
Having sailed single handed from Brixham to Chichester, entailing 20 hours single handed on the helm, I was able to keep a good watch.

I have, in the past. competed in 24 hour competition hikes and have found that between 0100 and 0300 I have to concentrate on keeping awake. During that period I tend to operate in 'autopilot mode' after 0300 I seem to wake up.

I've found the same when sailing.

So I ensure that I find plenty of routine things to do. Just sailing there is ample opportunity, when solo, to nip below to put the kettle on or go for a pee without jeopardising your watch-keeping abilities. Have a good look around, nip below, keep glancing through any ports below, do what needs doing and come back up.

A lot of it is establishing a routine.

At night I tend to keep the radar on, with a guard set.
 
In the 'old days' (pre around 1980 ?), it was common practice for merchant ships to have a lookout on the bridge at all times. This was in addition to the O.O.W. With the modern much smaller crews manning these ships the OOW will now be the sole person on the bridge. So whenever they are at the chart table or even using the loo they are not, technically, keeping a watch by sight and sound 'at all times'.

I don't see how the rule can be changed to make exceptions for solo sailors. As the OP correctly points out, they are going to do it anyway, regardless of any rules in force. However, modern electronic aids such as AIS and radar should, I think, be an essential part of solo sailors equipment.
Chris
 
As one of the Ministes in the last race, I:
- kept a radar target enhancer on 24/7
- kept an AIS transmitter/receiver on 24/7 with guard alarms
- had a radar detector with directional indication and an alarm on most of the time
- tried to sleep only in 20-30 minute chunks (but every few days seemed to need a 2-3hour real sleep)

On larger boats I can imagine a radar with guard alarm would help.

Colregs don't need to be changed.
 
It's difficult to see how the rule can be enforced in practice.

It can't be proved that a single-handed sailor was not keeping a 'proper' lookout until he collides with something or a stand-on vessel has to take some action to avoid colliding with him and its master decides to report the incident (which seems unlikely).
 
parsifal said:
It's difficult to see how the rule can be enforced in practice.

It can't be proved that a single-handed sailor was not keeping a 'proper' lookout until he collides with something or a stand-on vessel has to take some action to avoid colliding with him and its master decides to report the incident (which seems unlikely).
Click to expand...

Agreed. My view, FWIW, is that the rule is fine as it is. When sailing solo (at least long distance), one must recognise that it is simply not possible to comply with the lookout requirement. There are things that can be done to mitigate the risk - I have listed some of them in my previous post. One must also recognise that if there is a collision, one of the factors that will be taken into account when apportioning responsibility may be the lack of a proper lookout.
 
I think the rule is fine as it is.

When sailing solo, I keep a proper look out. At least that's the standard I set myself and think that other vessels have a right to expect of me. Of course in practice I sometimes fall short of that, as do vessels with larger crews. Usually my falling short is nothing to do with being alone -it's stupid inattention like not moving my head around so that high speed vessels creep up behind the coaming on the high side of the cockpit when I could have seen them easily with a bit more attention.

I ask myself would I be happy sailing as crew on a boat which didn't "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". Absolutely not, I wouldn't. So as I wouldn't sail as crew in those circumstances, I've no intention of sailing as skipper, or solo, like that.

Also, I think the sea would be a more dangerous place if the rule were changed in effect to read "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, save that short handed crews needn't bother". I know no-one would seriously suggest that, but that would be the effect and people would fall in to arguing about whether they could rely on the exception.

The fact that many commercial vessels don't keep a proper lookout is a red herring. The rules require them to. We don't and shouldn't change the rules to sanction what is a dangerous practice.

If they want to, solo sailors can reduce the times they need to give way by heaving to on the starboard tack and even signalling 'not under command' if they want to. I know that neither of those mean 'not keeping a lookout' but they do drop a heavy hint to another vessel that keeping clear is a good option -always assuming the other vessel is obeying Rule 5, of course, rather than some solo sailor who's eating a Yorkie or texting his girlfriend.
 
blackdogsailing said:
In the 'old days' (pre around 1980 ?), it was common practice for merchant ships to have a lookout on the bridge at all times. This was in addition to the O.O.W. With the modern much smaller crews manning these ships the OOW will now be the sole person on the bridge. So whenever they are at the chart table or even using the loo they are not, technically, keeping a watch by sight and sound 'at all times'.

I don't see how the rule can be changed to make exceptions for solo sailors. As the OP correctly points out, they are going to do it anyway, regardless of any rules in force. However, modern electronic aids such as AIS and radar should, I think, be an essential part of solo sailors equipment.
Chris
Click to expand...

Lets just clarify with the law:
In certain circumstances of clear daylight conditions the Master may consider that the OOW may be the sole look-out. On each occasion the Master should ensure that:

The prevailing situation has been carefully assessed and it has been established without a doubt that it is safe to do so;
Full account has been taken of all the relevant factors including not limited to:
  • state of the weather
  • visibility
  • traffic density
  • proximity of dangers to navigation
  • the attention necessary when navigating in or near trafic separation scemes
  • design and layout of the bridge
  • arcs of visibility
  • radar equipment fitted and their limitations with respect to navigation
  • other duties that the officer may have to engage in and which could be a distraction from the keeping of a proper look-out such as:
  1. operation of GMDSS and other communications equipment such as cell phones and email systems
  2. navigational maintenance such as completion of logs and other record keeping and correction of charts and publications
  3. routine testing and maintenance of bridge equipment
In any event, an OOW acting as sole look-out should always be able to fully perform both the duties of a look-out and those of keeping a safe navigational watch. Assistance must be immediately available to be summoned to the bridge when any change in the situation so requires.

-=-=-=-=-

I don't know about in the 80's certainly from my experience in the last 15 years the availability and everyday use of lookouts to the OOW has increased.

As for single handed yachties, as others have said they will never really comply....
 
I think in reality, the antics of solo sailors case the rest of the world very little problem or expense.
Efforts would be better spent elsewhere.
 
The key is in the word appropriate - all you need to do to comply with the rules is to make sure that you are able to detect any other vessels in plenty of time to take the necessary action. In normal conditions in a small boat you are unlikely to need to take any action until about 5 mins before the closest point (and more likely 2 mins). So in good visibility a 360degree visual scan of the horizon every 10 minutes is fine.
 
There are those who fail to recognise when there is a problem. There are those who recognise when there is a problem, but cannot be bothered to consider it. And there are those who recognise when a problem exists, and are given to considering how best to address it.

Consider, for example, the problem and practices of civil aviation - light and heavy commercial..... Similar admonitions to keeping a good lookout at all times. However, aviators are aided by the use of attention-getting strobe lights on wingtips. In the vicinity of an airfield and on the approach, most aircraft will also switch on a powerful landing (search)light, the better to be seen. Look up at night and in reduced visibility and notice how much more readily your attention is caught by such 'technical aids'....

In a crowded Solent ( or similar ) at night, notice how the small vessels with strobing orange or blue lights - as well as ordinary 'steaming lights' - immediately stand out from the huge array of shore and other lights and catch your eye immediately.

I've never understood the IMO proscription on the use of strobe lights. Lots of recreational boats around the US use masthead strobes for occasional use when deemed necessary. I myself carry a handheld MilSpec strobe as an 'attention getter' which I've used to very good effect twice in decades.

Are rules for the 'guidance of wise men and the obedience of fules'.....?
 
oldbilbo said:
I've never understood the IMO proscription on the use of strobe lights. Lots of recreational boats around the US use masthead strobes for occasional use when deemed necessary. I myself carry a handheld MilSpec strobe as an 'attention getter' which I've used to very good effect twice in decades.

.....?
Click to expand...

Maybe the proscription is because a man overboard wearing a survivor suit will show a strobe. Therefore if we should see a strobe we should head toward it pronto?
 
PuppySocks said:
Lets just clarify with the law:
In certain circumstances of clear daylight conditions the Master may consider that the OOW may be the sole look-out. On each occasion the Master should ensure that:

The prevailing situation has been carefully assessed and it has been established without a doubt that it is safe to do so;
Full account has been taken of all the relevant factors including not limited to:
  • state of the weather
  • visibility
  • traffic density
  • proximity of dangers to navigation
  • the attention necessary when navigating in or near trafic separation scemes
  • design and layout of the bridge
  • arcs of visibility
  • radar equipment fitted and their limitations with respect to navigation
  • other duties that the officer may have to engage in and which could be a distraction from the keeping of a proper look-out such as:
  1. operation of GMDSS and other communications equipment such as cell phones and email systems
  2. navigational maintenance such as completion of logs and other record keeping and correction of charts and publications
  3. routine testing and maintenance of bridge equipment
In any event, an OOW acting as sole look-out should always be able to fully perform both the duties of a look-out and those of keeping a safe navigational watch. Assistance must be immediately available to be summoned to the bridge when any change in the situation so requires.

-=-=-=-=-

I don't know about in the 80's certainly from my experience in the last 15 years the availability and everyday use of lookouts to the OOW has increased.

As for single handed yachties, as others have said they will never really comply....
Click to expand...

First I doubt if there will be any change in the rules anytime soon. in order to change the rules. There has to be an agreement made at the IMO to change the rules which then have to be adopted.
To get anything done or agreed at the IMO is likely to take about 10 years.
Most of this is covered by STCW not the rules.
bearing in mind the most up to date version of STCW is 95. Gives you an idea how long it takes.
On one hand you have the UK MCA the USA pushing for tighter control increased manning and increasing requirement for hours of rest and on the other you have equally strong pressure to reduce restrictions particularly from some European countries especially those which have a lot of small coastal tonnage.
And a bunch of FOC's which really don't give a rats ass and just pay lips service to it all anyway.

Changing the rules for the convenience of the recreational boats isn’t going to happen any time soon.

If change does happen it is usually the result of death and destruction to the paying public. Or huge damage to the environment which can be seen by the public.
This type of change is usually resisted by economic pressure. The other precursor to change at the IMO reducing costs to ship owners and governments.

The next big bright idea at the IMO is self regulation.
 
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oldbilbo said:
There are those who fail to recognise when there is a problem. There are those who recognise when there is a problem, but cannot be bothered to consider it. And there are those who recognise when a problem exists, and are given to considering how best to address it.
Click to expand...
Is there a problem with single handed sailors?

Ignoring the vendee globe ;)
 
In my day job, I have been campaigning for a revision of the 1972 Colregs for the last decade and more - not for anything to do with yachts, but because the rules don't mention half the stuff that modern ships carry, and there is a body of professional opinion that the steering and sailing rules for power driven vessels in sight of each other should be radically changed, to eliminate the concept of the "stand on" and "give way" vessel - which is essential for sailing vessels but not for powered vessels, to eliminate the distinction between vessels in sight of each other and those detecting each other by other means, and to standardise around Rule 19 instead.

A revision in the interest of yachts should be included at the same time, but the Secretary General of the IMO has assured me that, whilst he personally wants a revision of the Colregs (the present set have lasted unchanged longer than any earlier version) this could only come about by way of pressure from the member states; there is no sign that any member states are interested in the question.
 
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