Page 43 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

invention if properly used. It can lead to disaster when it is left to look after
itself while vigilance is relaxed. It is on men that safety at sea depends and
they cannot make a greater mistake than to suppose that machines can do all
their work for them. (Mr Justice Cairns, 1967)

Anchor watch
The duty to keep a proper look-out applies also when a vessel is at
anchor, especially if there is a strong tide running, or if other vessels
are likely to be passing by.

Gerda Toft-Elizabeth Mary
It may be that a seaman cannot help his anchor dragging in certain circum-
stances, but what he can do, and what he has a duty to do, is to keep a good
look-out and take prompt measures to stop the dragging if and when it does
occur. The failure of the Gerdu Toft to take timely measures in this case was
due, as I find, to bad look-out. As I have already said, both her officers were
in the chartroom at the material time, and the only look-out was that of the
extremely ineffective seaman, who remained on deck, and to whom I have
already referred. Because of this bad look-out those in charge of the Gerdu
Toft as it seems to me, had no real idea of what was happening, and, there-
fore, failing to appreciate the situation, failed to take any adequate steps to
arrest the dragging of their vessel. (Mr Justice Willmer, 1953)

RULE 6
Safe Speed
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that
she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be
stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circum-
stances and conditions.
In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be
among those taken into account:
(a) By all vessels:
(i) the state of visibility;
(ii) the traffic density including concentrations of fishing
vessels or any other vessels;
(iii) the manauvrability of the vessel with special reference
to stopping distance and turning ability in the prevailing
conditions:

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