Legal Talk

Maintaining a ‘proper lookout’

A2021 collision in the Bahamas highlighted a fundamental element of collision regulations that appears with regularity in marine collision litigation — the requirement to maintain a “proper lookout.” The collision also brought attention to the rule on overtaking vessels.

The collision occurred some 20 miles northwest of Nassau between the 176' aluminum yacht Utopia IV and the 159' steel product tanker Tropic Breeze

The captain of the Utopia IV was in control of the vessel. The bosun handled navigation and the bridge log. The captain left the wheelhouse a few times to check on passengers. While alone in the house, the bosun saw no radar or AIS targets.

On the bridge of the Tropic Breeze, an able-bodied seafarer (AB) and the master were on watch. The tanker’s AIS had a power issue and only worked intermittently. At around 10 pm, the bow