Keeping a proper
look-out by all
available means
Rule 5 of the COLREGS asks every vessel to keep a proper look-out, at all times, using every appropriate tool at its disposal. Continuous 360° vision is one of those tools — watching every bearing at once, day and night, underway and at anchor.
Short in wording, broad in application
Even on the most well-crewed bridge, there are limits to what the human eye and ear can catch — especially when navigating busy marinas, approaching anchorage in the dark, or running tenders alongside. That is exactly the situation Rule 5 of the COLREGS — the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, also known as the IRPCS — is written for.
"Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing 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."
— COLREGS, Rule 5
The standard never relaxes — not at 0300, not in fog, not while the crew is busy with a tender transfer.
Every appropriate tool at your disposal: not just eyes and ears, but radar, AIS, and increasingly camera systems that extend awareness beyond the bridge wing.
As vessels grow in size and complexity, so does the gap between what is required and what a watchkeeper can realistically monitor alone.
A proper look-out is not a rule you can flag your way around
Whatever register a yacht flies, the same obligation follows it — and several layers of regulation reinforce it. They don't compete; they all point at the same thing.
Keep a proper look-out, by all available means.
Rule 5 applies to every vessel, under every flag, at all times. It is the foundation the rest sit on.
The STCW Code (Part A-VIII/2) requires a proper look-out "at all times in compliance with Rule 5 of the COLREGs" and makes the OOW responsible. Sole look-out only in daylight when conditions allow.
The Red Ensign Group Yacht Code (Cayman, UK, Isle of Man, Gibraltar) and the Marshall Islands registry set manning and watchkeeping expectations. None lowers the duty — they operationalise it.
The EU has no separate look-out rule — it enforces COLREGs. Through Port State Control (Paris MoU, with EMSA), inspectors can detain vessels for operational deficiencies. Malta is the EU-flag example.
International law, the watchkeeping standard, the flag-state codes and EU enforcement all point at the same thing — keep a proper look-out, by all available means. That's where the right equipment makes the duty easier to meet.
This is general regulatory context, not legal advice. Crews and managers should always refer to their flag administration and class for the requirements that apply to their specific vessel.
Most bridges are well-equipped — each tool still has a blind spot
The question isn't whether your crew is capable. It's whether they have every tool they need to stay ahead of what's happening around the vessel.
One of the most complete answers available today
Panoblu isn't a compliance product, and we don't interpret maritime law. What we provide is a system built to help crew and management stay aware — visually, spatially and contextually — at all times.
The look-out duty doesn't stop when the vessel does
Panoblu supports awareness across the full operating profile.
On larger vessels, the split version of the unit can be mounted on the yard arms to assist with manoeuvring and berthing, where close-aboard visibility matters most.
A seamless 360° view doubles as a security solution, monitored from a single station instead of switching between fixed cameras.
Paired with Panoblu IR, thermal 360° night vision extends the same continuous awareness into low- and no-light conditions, when human look-out is most stretched.
After seeing the demonstration, I believe this product has strong potential in the large motor yachting sector. It is priced significantly below comparable systems, offers easy retrofit capability, and delivers impressive functionality.
For larger vessels, the split version could be mounted on the yard arms to assist with manoeuvring. It also presents excellent value as a security solution, providing a seamless 360° view while alongside or at anchor — simplified monitoring from a security office, crew mess, or even an iPad, eliminating the need to switch between multiple cameras at a fixed station.
Common questions
It doesn't replace a look-out — it strengthens one
We believe Panoblu offers a practical interpretation of "all available means." It gives captains more confidence, crews more information, and shoreside teams greater peace of mind.
Rule 5 is about vigilance. With Panoblu, crews get more of it: in real time, recorded, integrated, and accessible from anywhere on board or ashore. It's not just about compliance — it's about operational clarity and confidence.
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Building, refitting or managing a vessel where a proper look-out is non-negotiable? We'll arrange a demonstration and talk through retrofit, coverage and the onboard archive.
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