200508 Need for a good Lookout

Need for a good Lookout
MARS Report 200508

Own ship was a semi submersible heavy lift vessel loaded with a huge rig. We were coming from the Sea of Bohai into the Chinese Sea. It is an area full of fishing vessels. The Bridge was manned with the OOW, Lookout and Master during the 2000-2400 watch. We plotted a vessel on the radar which was predicted to pass 8 cables on the port side. The OOW (who had the con), decided to change course to starboard as there were 2 fishing vessels ahead of own vessel and, at the same time, create more space for the other vessel on the port side. As we altered to starboard, the other vessel suddenly showed red and green lights instead of a red light and shortly after, only a green light, indicating that she had altered to port.

We gave hard-a-starboard rudder to avoid a close quarters situation and, after a few seconds, the other vessel must have realized that they had made a mistake and they altered to starboard, showing a red light, as they should have done in the first place. The other vessel passed at a distance of 4 cables on the port side and we could start breathing normally again.

This incident shows that one always has to keep a good lookout for preventing this kind of stupidity, because that's what I call it.