INTRODUCTION TO LOOKOUT TRAINING In this United States Navy with its nuclear-powered warships, computerized guidance systems, and the most accurate search radars in the world, you, the lookout, play a critical role in safe ship operations. Your trained human eye is far superior to the most sophisticated equipment. As a lookout, you are the eyes and ears of the ship, and your alertness and skill ensures the safety of the ship. In the naval service there is probably no Rule of the Road more conscientiously observed than Rule 5 of the Navigation Rules, Commandant Instruction M16672.2, which states: “Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and sound 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 this manual, we will discuss visual search and contact reporting procedures, ship/aircraft recognition, Rules of the Road, buoy systems, special sea detail, restricted visibility steaming, man-overboard procedures, and Marine Species Awareness, along with other material which will assist you in your capacity as a lookout.

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