🔍 Key Concepts

• Sound signals for lookouts on the bow reporting objects by bell strokes • Difference between port and starboard and how each is indicated by sound • Remembering the standard pattern for number of strokes vs. relative bearing

💭 Think About

• Think about how a lookout quickly communicates whether danger is on the port side, starboard side, or right ahead using just bell strokes. How is each direction coded? • If one side uses one stroke and the other side uses two, what might three or more strokes be reserved for? • Visualize standing at the bow as lookout: what specific pattern would let the bridge know the object is on the port side without confusion?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the standard lookout bell code used to indicate relative bearing: port, starboard, dead ahead • Confirm which number of strokes is traditionally associated with an object on the port bow • Make sure you are not confusing helm orders (like “port” or “starboard”) with lookout reporting signals (bell strokes)