Under the Rules of the Road, when must a lookout be maintained?

• A. Only during daylight hours
• B. Only in inland waters
• C. At all times
• D. Only in restricted visibility

Answer: (C)

Keeping a proper lookout must happen at all times. Under the Rules of the Road, every vessel is required to maintain a lookout by sight and hearing, and with all available means appropriate to the conditions, so you can accurately assess the risk of collision. This obligation doesn’t vanish at night, in open seas, or in heavy fog; it exists in every situation. The other options would leave you unprotected against hazards or other vessels in many real-world scenarios: daylight only misses nighttime risks; inland waters only ignores dangers on coastal and offshore routes; restricted visibility only isn’t sufficient because clear conditions also demand vigilance.