Look-Out Scan & Identify (Rule 5)
Conduct a proper look-out by sight and hearing. Identify all targets in the vicinity by name and bearing.
Scenario briefing
Conduct a proper look-out by sight and hearing. Identify all targets in the vicinity by name and bearing. Rule 5 requires every vessel to maintain a proper look-out by sight, hearing and all available means appropriate.
Applicable COLREG rule(s)
📸 Bridge simulator scene
Captured directly from the SkipperCheck COLREG bridge simulator at scenario T = 0 — the moment the encounter begins.
Key teaching points
- Proper look-out is by sight AND hearing AND all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances (Rule 5).
- A structured scan covers the full horizon every 1–2 minutes; AIS/radar checks are inserted between visual sweeps.
- Stern arcs and the lee bow are commonly skipped — overtakers and small craft hide there.
- In darkness, scan with peripheral vision; staring directly at a faint light makes it disappear due to rod-cell saturation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating AIS as a substitute for visual look-out. AIS targets only what is transmitting — small craft, fishing buoys and debris are invisible.
- Settling into a half-circle "forward only" scan. Most close-quarters incidents start in a quadrant you weren't watching.
Why it matters
Exam relevance
Rule 5 is invoked in nearly every collision investigation; RYA and STCW orals test it by describing a near-miss and asking what the watchkeeper should have been doing differently.
Related scenarios
About SkipperCheck simulators
SkipperCheck offers two browser-based maritime training simulators:
- ARPA · AIS · COLREG Bridge Simulator — 54 scenarios covering Rules 2, 5–10, 12–19, 23–30, 34 and 35.
- VHF SRC Radio Simulator — 15 scenarios: voice Mayday, DSC distress, Mayday Relay, Pan-Pan, Sécurité, routine.
Both run in any modern browser, on desktop or mobile. No install, no plugins.