List five specific situations that would require the OOW to call the master, regardless of whether they are in the night orders.

A. MANDATORY MASTER CALL SITUATIONS (STCW Code A-VIII/2 Para 48): (1) VISIBILITY RESTRICTED: if visibility deteriorates to below the level where safe watchkeeping cannot be maintained — regardless of night order threshold; (2) TRAFFIC AND NAVIGATION: if the OOW is in doubt about any action to ensure safety — including any close-quarters situation developing, difficulty in identifying a vessel, or doubt about a radar contact; (3) FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT: any failure of main propulsion, steering, essential navigation equipment, or alarm system; (4) LAND, SHOAL, HAZARD IN VICINITY: if the vessel approaches closer to land, shoal, or other danger than was anticipated; (5) DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING COURSE: if the vessel is not maintaining the planned track or course — unexpected current, set, or failure of autopilot; ADDITIONALLY: (6) ANY EMERGENCY: man overboard, fire, flooding, collision; (7) BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION: VHF failure, GMDSS failure in an area requiring communication; (8) DISTRESS SIGNAL: receiving a distress signal requiring the vessel to respond under SOLAS V/33; (9) POSITION UNCERTAINTY: if in doubt about vessel's position — GPS failure, ECDIS anomaly, expected landfall not sighted; (10) ANY SITUATION WHERE THE OOW FEELS UNCERTAIN OR UNSAFE. The guiding principle: "When in doubt, call the master." The cost of disturbing the master unnecessarily is trivial; the cost of not calling when needed can be catastrophic.

B. The OOW should call the master only in an emergency (collision or sinking). All other situations can be managed by the OOW using professional judgement.

C. The master must be called only when night orders specifically require it. In all other situations, the OOW operates independently.

D. Call the master only if the OOW cannot resolve a situation in 10 minutes of independent effort. Calling too quickly undermines the OOW's professional status.

A. PROPER LOOKOUT — RULE 5 PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS: COLREG Rule 5: 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. IN PRACTICE: (1) VISUAL: dedicated lookout person on watch — not the helmsman (who must watch the compass and not the horizon). In darkness, allow 20 minutes dark adaptation before lookout duty. Scan systematically — not just dead ahead; (2) HEARING: in restricted visibility — listen for fog signals from other vessels; in any conditions — listen for distress signals (flares, gunshots, horn signals, shouting from water); (3) RADAR: keep radar on and properly tuned — ARPA tracking active. Radar supplements but does not replace visual lookout; (4) AIS: monitor AIS display — be aware of other vessels' identities, courses, speeds. AIS complements radar; (5) VHF: monitor Ch 16 — NAVTEX for warnings; (6) NIGHT ORDERS: follow master's night orders on when to call; (7) NOT ACCEPTABLE: OOW alone on bridge in darkness — STCW Code A-VIII/2 Para 13 and 14 specify that a single OOW may keep watch only if ECDIS/radar is providing collision avoidance assistance AND the OOW can call additional lookout immediately; (8) STCW MINIMUM: many administrations (including UK MCA) require a second person available for lookout in restricted visibility.

B. A proper lookout means the OOW must be on the bridge at all times. The OOW watching from the bridge chair satisfies COLREG Rule 5 requirements.

C. RADAR and AIS together constitute "all available means" under Rule 5. Once ARPA is running, a dedicated human visual lookout is no longer required by COLREG.

D. Rule 5 applies only in restricted visibility. In clear weather with visibility over 5nm, the OOW alone satisfies proper lookout requirements.

A. MASTER'S STANDING ORDERS — INTERPRETATION AND ACTION: SITUATION: visibility 2.1nm and dropping — you are at the threshold. THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION: the spirit of the order is to ensure the master is called before restricted visibility operations become dangerous. A literal reading — "not yet 2nm so don't call" — misses the point. ACTIONS: (1) CALL THE MASTER: call now. The order says "if visibility drops below 2nm" — at 2.1nm dropping, visibility WILL be below 2nm within minutes. The spirit of the order requires calling at the threshold or before it is breached, not after; (2) PHRASE IT CORRECTLY: "Master, OOW. Visibility currently 2.1nm and dropping. Fog appears to be closing in. You asked to be called if visibility drops below 2nm — calling you now as we approach that threshold"; (3) CONCURRENTLY: sound fog signal (one prolonged blast every 2 minutes) — Rule 35 requires this as soon as visibility is restricted. Minimum requirement for sounding fog signals is when "visibility is restricted"; (4) REDUCE SPEED: consider speed reduction — call master and recommend; (5) EXTRA LOOKOUT: post additional lookout; (6) LOG: time, visibility, fog signals commenced, master called, time. STCW Rule: always err on the side of calling the master too early rather than too late. No master has ever disciplined an OOW for calling too early. Many OOWs have been disciplined (or worse) for calling too late.

B. Visibility is 2.1nm — above the 2nm threshold. Do not call the master until visibility actually reaches 2.0nm exactly as stated in the orders.

C. Ignore the night order visibility threshold — you are OOW and in command of the bridge. The master's orders are guidance only; they cannot override your professional judgement.

D. Start fog signals and reduce speed on your own authority. Call the master only when visibility reaches 1nm — this prevents unnecessary disturbance.