Question 1

You've just moved from a well-lit social setting directly to helming a vessel at night. How long does full night-vision adaptation typically take, and what does that mean for your first few minutes underway?

Accepted Answer

Up to 15–20 minutes for rod cells to fully adapt — helming at speed in the dark before this completes means operating with significantly degraded ability to detect low-visibility hazards In the real incident, the owner's representative moved directly from a lit environment to the tender's helm; night vision adaptation was not complete when the collision occurred. The drifting RIB, showing only a single all-round white light against harbour light clutter, was exactly the kind of low-conspicuity hazard degraded night vision would miss.

Question 2

Rule 5 (Look-out) requires every vessel at all times to maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing, as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions — and this duty applies even when the vessel is at anchor in a busy anchorage.

Accepted Answer

True True. Rule 5 applies 'at all times' and to 'every vessel'. A vessel at anchor in a busy anchorage still needs an effective look-out to detect drifting vessels, dragging anchors, or approaching traffic that may pose a risk of collision or contact.

Question 3

Under Rule 6 (Safe Speed), a vessel fitted with a fully operational radar and ARPA never needs to reduce speed in restricted visibility, because the equipment guarantees early detection of other vessels.

Accepted Answer

False False. Rule 6 explicitly lists radar capability as one factor to consider, but also requires accounting for the state of visibility, traffic density, manoeuvrability, and the limitations of radar (range scale, sea/rain clutter, blind sectors). Even a vessel with excellent radar must proceed at a speed that allows proper and effective action to avoid collision and to be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances.