The door, hatch or other closure in a marine vessel includes a large central window, and is manually or mechanically latched or unlatched by a quick-acting actuation mechanism. An outer handle or an inner handle is rotated, thereby pulling a chain that engages each of a plurality of sprockets. As the chain is pulled, each of a plurality of dogs rotate to engage or disengage a corresponding number of strikers attached to a jamb. The position of dog is visually identifiable from the position of the handles.