§140.640. Pilothouse resource management. — Inbound Citations

(a) The officer in charge of a navigational watch must conduct a navigation assessment for the intended route and operations prior to getting underway. The navigation assessment must incorporate the requirements of pilothouse resource management of § 140.640, assess operational risks, and anticipate and manage workload demands. At a minimum, this assessment must consider:

(1) The velocity and direction of currents in the area being transited;

(2) Water depth, river stage, and tidal state along the route and at mooring location;

(3) Prevailing visibility and weather conditions and changes anticipated along the intended route;

(4) Density (actual and anticipated) of marine traffic;

(5) The operational status of pilothouse instrumentation and controls, to include alarms, communication systems, variation and deviation errors of the compass, and any known nonconformities or deficiencies;

(6) Air draft relative to bridges and overhead obstructions taking tide and river stage into consideration;

(7) Horizontal clearance, to include bridge transits;

(8) Lock transits;

(9) Navigation hazards such as logs, wrecks or other obstructions in the water;

(10) Any broadcast notice to mariners, safety or security zones or special navigation areas;

(11) Configuration of the vessel and tow, including handling characteristics, field of vision from the pilothouse, and activities taking place onboard;

(12) The knowledge, qualifications, and limitations of crewmembers who are assigned as members on watch and the experience and familiarity of crewmembers with the towing vessels particulars and equipment; and