COLREGs – Sound Signals
Intent, warning, and why ignoring sound signals still causes collisions Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Sound Signals Still Matter Sound signals are often treated as obsolete on modern bridges. This is a serious error. Sound signals exist because there are times when: Sound cuts through uncertainty. When sound […]
COLREGs – Shapes
What vessels are telling you in daylight — and why daylight collisions still happen Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Shapes Still Matter in Modern Navigation A persistent myth on modern bridges is: “Shapes are obsolete — we have AIS and radar.” This belief has contributed directly to daylight […]
COLREGs – Lights
What vessels are telling you at night — and how misreading lights causes collisions Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Navigation Lights Exist Navigation lights exist to answer three operational questions at night: They are not decorative, and they are not optional. At night, lights are primary information, not […]
Bridge Watch Handovers
Why most navigation accidents begin at the moment nobody owns the ship Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. What a Bridge Handover Really Is A bridge handover is not a conversation. It is the controlled transfer of legal responsibility, situational awareness, and decision authority from one Officer of the Watch […]
Bridge Team Roles
Who does what on the bridge — and why accidents happen when roles blur Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. The Bridge as a Team, Not a Rank Structure The bridge is not run by hierarchy alone — it is run by clearly defined functional roles. Rank establishes authority and […]
UMS Fundamentals for Bridge Watchkeepers
Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. What UMS Really Means in Practice How “Unattended Machinery Space” actually works, what the bridge must monitor, and what actions win (or lose) the first 60 seconds. 2. Why UMS Exists and What It Changes Operationally 3. UMS vs “No Engineers Onboard” 4. The […]