He is responsible for safe navigation, monitoring the radar, keeping an eye on other shipping, ensuring the routine business of the ship is properly conducted, observing and recording the weather, checking an increasing number of displays and instruments on the bridge and dealing with incoming satellite and radio traffic. Every alarm, no matter what its source, is a potential distraction. At night he should always have a lookout to assist him, but as the MAIB frequently observes, this requirement is often ignored, especially in ships with very small crews. Then there is the human factor. Despite these slightly unpromising observations, he will nonetheless, usually see, or detect on radar, other vessels in sufficient time to take whatever measures are necessary to avoid a collision.
Modern radars are now very reliable and have automatic plotting attachments.
There are very few instances of collisions occurring between big ships when the watchkeepers are totally unaware of the presence of the other. There are, however, too many instances when the officer of the watch of the big ship fails, apparently, to see, or detect a yacht. The yachtsman should understand why. Even in the most perfect conditions, a yacht can be difficult to see, especially when under way on engine alone or lying with bare poles. Sails help, but when coloured white, can be difficult to see in a high sea state when viewed from a lofty bridge.