46 CFR 196.27-1: Master's and officer's responsibility for lookout and precautions

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says that nothing in this part excuses a master or officer in command from the consequences of neglect. The neglect covered is failing to keep a proper lookout or failing to take a precaution that ordinary seamanship or the special circumstances of the case may require.

Applies toAny master or officer in command.

What it says

  1. Nothing in this part excuses a master or officer in command from the consequences of neglecting to keep a proper lookout.

    46 CFR 196.27-1(a)“Nothing in this part shall exonerate any master or officer in command from the consequences of any neglect to keep a proper lookout”

  2. Nothing in this part excuses a master or officer in command from the consequences of neglecting any precaution that the ordinary practice of seamen may require.

    46 CFR 196.27-1(a)“the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen”

  3. Nothing in this part excuses a master or officer in command from the consequences of neglecting any precaution that the special circumstances of the case may require.

    46 CFR 196.27-1(a)“the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case”

Common questions

Does compliance with this part excuse a master from neglecting a lookout?

No. Nothing in this part exonerates a master or officer in command from the consequences of neglecting to keep a proper lookout.

“Nothing in this part shall exonerate any master or officer in command from the consequences of any neglect to keep a proper lookout”

Who is responsible for neglecting precautions required by special circumstances?

A master or officer in command is not excused from the consequences of neglecting a precaution that the special circumstances of the case may require.

“the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case”

The text of 46 CFR 196.27-1

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Master's and officer's responsibility

(a) Nothing in this part shall exonerate any master or officer in command from the consequences of any neglect to keep a proper lookout or the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case.

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.