<![CDATA[Negligence during the navigational watch is a major contributor to collisions at sea, even though the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG) 1972 and the STCW Convention, as amended in 2010, set clear requirements for lookout, assessment of collision risk, and watchkeeping arrangements. This study analyses efforts to prevent collision hazards caused by negligence during the navigational watch on the general cargo ship MV Francisca. It was carried out during the authors’ sea practice from 5 August 2022 to 5 August 2023 using a descriptive qualitative design, with data collected through direct observation, interviews with watchkeeping officers and crew, and documents such as the logbook and standard operating procedures. The units of analysis were the officers of the watch and the navigation equipment used during the watch. A near-collision on 25 January 2023, during a voyage from Rotterdam to Reykjavik in Scottish waters in snow and waves of about 6 m, served as the case study. The Second Officer ignored repeated reports from the cadet that a fishing vessel on the starboard side was less than 1 nautical mile away with a decreasing closest point of approach, because he was completing a passage plan that should have been prepared before departure; a collision was avoided only by a late alteration of 75° to starboard and a reduction to dead slow ahead. The Chief Officer had also left his 16:00–20:00 watch to the Second Officer outside the latter’s watch hours. The study concludes that watchkeeping on the MV Francisca did not fully comply with COLREG 1972 and STCW, particularly regarding continuous lookout, response to reports, handover, and avoidance of distracting tasks. Stricter watchkeeping discipline, better use of radar and ECDIS, effective communication within the bridge team, and training are recommended.]]>
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