BRIDGE WATCHKEEPING Practical Guide

THENAUTICALINSTITUTEBRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGAPRACTICALGUIDEBRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGPublishedbyTheNauticalInstitute202LambethRoad,LondonSE17LQ,Englandtelephone:(071)928-1351Firsteditionpublished1994Copyright©TheNauticalInstitute,1994Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise,withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublishers,exceptforthequotationofbriefpassagesinreviews.Althoughgreatcarehasbeentakenwiththewritingandproductionofthisvolume,neitherTheNauticalInstitutenortheauthorscanacceptanyresponsibilityforerrors,omissionsortheirconsequences.Thisbookhasbeenpreparedtoaddressthesubjectofbridgewatchkeeping.Thisshouldnot,however,betakentomeanthatthisdocumentdealscomprehensivelywithalloftheconcernswhichwillneedtobeaddressedoreven,whereaparticularmatterisaddressed,thatthisdocumentsetsouttheonlydefinitiveviewforallsituations.Theopinionsexpressedarethoseoftheauthorsonlyandarenotnecessarilytobetakenasthepoliciesorviewsofanyorganisationwithwhichtheyhaveanyconnection.Readersshouldmakethemselvesawareofanylocal,nationalorinternationalchangestobylaws,legislation,statutoryandadministrativerequirementsthathavebeenintroducedwhichmightaffectanydecisionstakenonboard.TypesetbyJavafameComputerServices34PrenticeStreet,Lavenham,SuffolkC0109RD,EnglandPrintedinEnglandbyO'SullivanPrintingCorporation,Unit10,TridentWay,InternationalTradingEstate,BrentRoad,SouthallMiddlesexUB25LFISBN1870077172BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGAcknowledgementsTheneedtoimprovestandardsofbridgewatchkeepingwasidentifiedbymembersofTheNauticalInstituterespondingtoaquestionnairesentoutbyCaptainP.BoyleFNI,President,in1991.ResultingfromthistheInstitutehasdevelopedaBridgeOperationsProgrammeinvolvingthebookBridgeTeamManagement,threevideosonBridgeWatchkeeping,PassagePlanningandTheMasterPilotRelationship,twoBriefingdocumentscontainedinthisvolumeandultimatelythispracticalguidetoBridgeWatchkeeping.AteachstagetheInstitutehassoughttoinvolveseagoingmembersinthedevelopmentoftheprogrammeandCouncilisgratefultotheIsleofManBranchformonitoringtheprogressofthisvolumeandmaintainingtherightbalanceforitspurpose.Theassistanceoftheadvisorygroup,listedseparately,wasbothnecessaryandmuchappreciated.ParticulargratitudeisduetoCaptainD.G.T.GreenhaighMNI,ManagingDirectorofCelticPacific,IsleofMan,formakingavailabletheirpremisesformeetings.MuchvaluableworkinpreparingthisvolumewascontributedbyCaptainH.H.FrancisMNIandtheassistanceoftheWestWalesTrainingandEnterpriseCouncilisappreciated.TheiconsusedonthecoverofmaterialrelatingtotheBridgeOperationsprogrammeweredesignedbyMrSimonRooney.WeareparticularlygratefultoCaptainK.P.SladeFNI,CommandExaminertoTheNauticalInstitute,forsharinghisbridgeordersandtoMrF.S.GreenfieldMNI,Marine&SafetyManager,P&0Cruises,UKLtd,forprovidinginformationrelatingtologbookentries.Thetexthasbeenthesubjectofconsiderableprofessionaldebateandmanychangeshavebeenmadeinthepreparationofthisguide.OurwarmestthanksaregiventoMrTonyHepworthMNIofJavafameComputerServiceswhopreparedthistextforprinting.C.J.ParkerT.C.RooneyTHENAUTICALINSTITUTE—4BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGAmessagefromtheSecretaryGeneraloftheIMOintroducingTheNauticalInstituteBridgeOperationsProgramme"Wheneverashipputstosea,theMasterandnavigatingofficershaveadutybothinpublicandcommerciallawtonavigatecompetentlyatalltimes.Upontheiractionsdependthesuccessfuloutcomeofthevoyage,safetyatseaandprotectionofthemarineenvironment."Watchkeepingofficers,throughtheirdiligenceandprofessionalism,provideahighlyvaluedservicetosociety.ThiscontributionisrecognisedbytheIMOandIwishtopaytributetotheworld'sseafarersandthoseorganisationswhichareworkingwithustoenhancesafeshipoperations."W.A.O'Neil—5—BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGBRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGFOREWORDbyCaptainL.A.Holder,ExCMPhilFNIPresident,TheNauticalInstituteCompetenceinnavigationandseamanshipisbaseduponasoundknowledgeofprinciplesandrules,experienceatseaandproficiencyincarryingoutdutiesdiligently.Thisappliesparticularlytowatchkeeping,whichrequiresalltheseelementstobebroughttogetheronthebridgeofaship.Theofficerofthewatchhastohavepersonalqualities—beingself-reliant,nottooproudtoaskforassistanceandalwaysbeingwillingtoworkaspartofateam.Itissurprisingthattherearesofewbooksonwatchkeeping.Partofthereasonistheexpectationthatalltheskillswillbelearntonthejob,withouttheneedforwrittensupport.However,studiesundertakenbyTheNauticalInstituteandinformationprovidedinourconfidentialmarineaccidentreportingscheme(MARS),indicatethattrainingcannolongerbetakenforgrantedandthatpracticalassistanceisneededtoconveytheattributesandskillsnecessarytobecomeacompetentwatchkeeper.BridgeWatchkeepingispartofaprogrammeofvideosandtrainingguideswhichTheNauticalInstituteishelpingtoproducewiththeaimofimprovingandupdatingnavigationalandwatchkeepingskills.FurtherdetailsaregiveninAnnex7.Thisstudyguidehasbroughttogetherateamofexperiencedmastersandofficerstopassontheexperiencetheyhavegainedovermanyyearsofseafaring.Theguidewillhelptraineesandjuniorofficerstoimprovebridgewatchkeepingperformance.Iwishallthosefollowingthecourseofstudysuccessinbecomingwellorganised,confidentandefficientwatchkeepers.THENAUTICALINSTITUTE—6—BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGINTRODUCTIONWelcometothisstudyguideonBridgeWatchkeeping.Ithasbeenpreparedinresponsetoademandforpracticalguidancefortheofficerofthewatch(OOW).Itisdesignedtopassonpracticaladvicebyseniorofficersinthehopethattheirguidancewillhelptopreventmanyofthemistakeswhichtheyhavehadtoleamfrombitterexperience.Thisguideisdesignedforself-study.Theaimandobjectivesarelistedbelow.ByworkingcarefullyandmethodicallythroughthisguideOOWsshouldhaveabetterappreciationoftheirwatchkeepingdutiesandhowtheycansupporttheMasterandbecomeanefficientandresponsiblememberofthebridgeteam.AimoftheGuideTheaimofthisself-studyguideistoenhancestandardsofbridgewatchkeepingthroughaself-assessmentprogrammewhichcoversbridgeoperationswithrespectto:-DifferentstagesofthepassageThetaskstobeperformedThecorrectuseofequipmentApplicationofreliableproceduresSupportforthebridgeteamObjectivesOnsuccessfulcompletionoftheguidetheOOWshouldbeabletodescribe,stateorlistthedutiesofawatchkeepingofficerandthepracticesnecessaryto:-ConductasafenavigationalwatchHandoverandacceptawatchCarryoutthetasksrequiredduringeachstageofaseapassageMonitortheequipmentwhichshouldbeavailableforuseduringeachstageofapassagePreventtheerrorswhichcanoccurwhencarryingouttasksorusingequipmentImplementreliablemethodsoferrorcheckingSupporttheMaster,andthepilotwhencarriedCallforassistanceWorkasamemberofthebridgeteam—7—BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGItshouldbepossible,withfurtherwatchkeepingexperience/fortheOOWwhofollowstheguidanceinthisbook,tobeabletocarryoutthosedutiessafelyandconfidently.AssumptionsThisself-studyguideassumesthatOOWshaveundertakenbasictraininginchartworkandintheuseofradarandnavigationequipment.ItisalsoassumedthattheyhavestudiedandunderstandtheprovisionsoftheInternationalRegulationsforPreventingCollisionsatSea(COLREGS).GuidetostudyingEachchaptercontainssomeelementoftheoverallobjectivesanddetailsofthetasksthatcombinetoensureasafenavigationalwatch.ThisisinthecontextoftheguidanceprovidedbytheInternationalMaritimeOrganization(IMO)Resolutions(seeAnnex2)andtheInternationalChamberofShipping(ICS)BridgeProcedureGuide.Self-AssessmentQuestions(SAQs)Self-assessmentquestionsshouldbecompletedastheyappearinthetextandshouldnotbeomitted.WithouttheSAQsthisguidewouldbejustanothertextbook.ByallmeansdiscusstheanswerstotheSAQswithotherofficers.However,thisisanindividualcourseofstudy,andreadersshouldperseverewitheachchapter,answeringtheSAQstothebestoftheirability.UsethespaceprovidedinthetexttowritetheanswerstotheSAQsinyourhandwriting.Whenitcomestorevision,theanswerswillformpartofthelearningprocess.Donotstoretheanswersmentallybutwritethemdownandthencheckwiththetextincasesomeimportantdetailshavebeenoverlooked.Writingtheanswersinthespaceprovidedreinforcesthelessonstobelearned.InthetexttheSAQsarenotnumberedinsequencebecausewhencheckingtheanswertoonequestiontheanswertothenextquestioncouldbeseen.Inthepagesatthebackofthebooktheanswersare,however,insequentialorder.Someofthequestionsrequireinformationwhichcanonlybefoundonboardtheship.Anexampleofaself-assessmentquestionSAQ1—1.Fromwhichsourcesdoyouobtaininformationaboutyourwatchkeepingduties?1.Изкакогоисточникаможнополучитьинформациюобобязанностяхвахтенногопомощника.THENAUTICALINSTITUTE—8BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGChapter1—PREPARINGFORSEAPurposeOncompletionofthischapteryouwillbeawareofthereasonsfortestingthegearandcheckingthatitistestedproperly.Youwillbeintroducedtotheconceptof'errorchains'andtheneedtounderstandshipboardoperations,inordertocommunicateeffectivelybothonboardandwiththeshore.Afinalsectionremindsyouofyourroleinupdatingnavigationalinformation.TheshipinportWhenashipisinport,officerswillsupervisetheloadingand/ordischargeofcargo;ballastingordeballasting;themaintenanceoftheship;themaintenanceofthemachinery;themooringarrangementswhichareaffectedbytheinternalloadingoftheshipandtheexternalriseandfallofthetide;thesecurityandthegangwayandsafeaccesstotheship.Supplementaryactivitiesmightincludetheloadingofstores,security,crewchanges,shoregangscarryingoutmaintenance,surveyorscarryingoutclassificationorstatutorysurveysandspecialistsservicingequipment.TheneedforsystematictestingWhensomanyactivitiesaretakingplaceandtheship'sofficersareworkingeitherinwatchesoronindividualitemsofmaintenance,itisnotpossibletobeabsolutelysurethateverythinghasbeenputbackinperfectworkingorder.Indeed,experienceshowsthatthisisoftennotthecase.Theonlywaytofindoutifalltheequipmentisfunctionalistotestit.TheneedforseamanshipBeforetakingashiptoseatheMastermustsatisfyhimselfthattheshipisseaworthy.Hewillneedtoknow,amongstotherthings,that:-Thecargoisstowedsafely;-Theshipisproperlybatteneddown;-Allmoveableobjectsaresecured;-Bridgeequipmenttestedandoperational;-Themainengine,auxiliariesandthesteeringgeararefullyoperational;-Personnelarebackonboard,properlyrestedandreadytoperformtheirduties.ThecommandstructureTheMasterhastheultimateresponsibilityforthesafeandefficientoperationoftheship.TheMasterdelegatesauthoritytotheOOWthrough:-Standingorders-TheroutineoftheshipNightorders-Directordersanddiscussion—9—BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGAnexampleofanextractfromMaster'sStandingOrdersisgivenonpages11to13.TheOOWhasadutytocarryouttheseorderstothebestofhisorherability.TheOOWmustcomplywiththeMaster'sorderstoensurethattheMastercanproperlydirecttheactivitiestobecarriedoutonboard.TheresponsibilityoftheOOWTheinternationalstandardsforbridgewatchkeepingaregivenintheConventiononStandardsofTrainingCertificationandWatchkeeping1978aslistedinAnnex2.Specifically,theprimaryresponsibilityoftheOOWisstatedasfollows:-"TheofficerofthewatchistheMaster'srepresentativeandhisprimaryresponsibilityatalltimesisthesafenavigationoftheship.Heshouldatalltimescomplywiththeapplicableregulationsforpreventingcollisionsatsea."TestingthegearTheMaster'sstandingorderswillusuallydelegatethetestingofship'snavigationalequipmenttothejuniorOOW,whomustensureitsoperationalreadinesspriortosailing.Failuretoensurethatallequipmentistestedandinworkingordercanleadtocriticalsituations.Forexample,ononeoccasionafailuretotestthewhistlepreventedapilotfromcommunicatingurgently,toanothervesselinafairway,thathewasturningtostarboard.Onanotheroccasion,theomissiontoputoutthebinocularsinthewheelhousepreventedanimportantlandmarkfrombeingidentified.Mosterrorscanbecorrectedintime,buttheaimofgoodwatchkeepingpracticemustbetoensurethatthecauseofanerrorchainisavoided(seeChapter12).Mostshipsrequirecheckliststobeused.StandingOrdersgenerallystatethatthedesignatedofficerwillverifyeachitemandsignthelistbeforehandingittotheMasterpriortosailing.Alternatively,atwo-personsystemmaybeusedwherebyonepersonreadsouttheitemtobeinspectedandtheotherverifiesitsstatus.Atypicalchecklistisprovidedonpage14.PreparationsintheengineroomandenginecontrolroomTheOOWshould,ofcourse,beawarethatastheshippreparesforsea,preparationintheengineroomandenginecontrolroomisalsotakingplace.(textcontinuedonpage15)THENAUTICALINSTITUTE—10—MASTER'SSTANDINGORDERSM.V.GoldenRuleForthewholeperiodofhiswatchtheOOWisresponsibleforthesafetyoftheShipuntilsuchtimeasheisformallyrelievedbyanotherofficerortheMaster,anduntilthattimeheshallremainathisplaceofduty.TheOOWshallbeguidedbythecontentsofinternationalregulationsandguidelines,butpayingparticularattentiontothefollowing:-PARAMOUNTCLAUSE—THESAFETYOFTHESHIPANDITSPERSONNELISALWAYSTOBETHEPRIMECONSIDERATION,TAKINGPRECEDENCEOVERANYOTHER.NOCONSIDERATIONOFPROGRAMME,CONVENIENCEORPREVIOUSINSTRUCTIONSJUSTIFIESTAKINGANYRISKWHICHMAYPLACETHESHIPINDANGER.1ThefirstandforemostdutyoftheOOWisthekeepingofaGOODLOOKOUT,usingallmeansavailable,visual,audibleandelectronic.2TheInternationalRegulationsforPreventingCollisionsatSeaaretobestrictlyobserved.DonothesitatetousethewhistleorengineinobeyingtheseRegulations.Whenalteringcourseforanothervesseldosoboldlyandinsufficienttimetoletanyothervesselbeinnodoubtastoyourintentions.3Ifyouareindoubtastoanothervessel'sintentions,orifthebearingofanyvesselontheportsideissteady,calltheMaster,preferablywhentherangestillexceedsfivemiles.4Inreducedvisibilityimmediatelycomplywithinternationalregulations.Donothesitatetousethewhistleorslowdownifnecessary.Commenceplottingalltargetsforwardofthebeam,operateVHFonChannel16,andinformtheMasterandChiefEngineer.Forthepurposeoftheseordersreducedvisibilityisanythinglessthanfourmiles.5Ifseverelinesquallsorfreakmeteorologicalphenomenasuchaswaterspoutsareobserved,immediatelyalertanycrewmembersondeckbysoundingoneprolongedblastonthewhistle,altercoursetokeepclearifpossible,andcalltheMaster.6Watchkeepersaretouseallmeansandopportunitiesinordertoestablishtheship'sposition.AllstellarpositionsobtainedaretobeenteredintheDeckLogBook,alsothetimesofcrossingsignificantdepthcontours,e.g.the200mline.Thepositionsofallcoursealterationsaretobelogged.Officersaretofamiliarisethemselveswiththefulloperations,scopeandlimitationsofbridgenavigationalequipment,especiallyelectronic.Thismeansstudyingthemanufacturer's—11—BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGoperationalmanualsprovided.7Onlyonechartatatimeistobeonthecharttable/thisbeingthelargestscaleavailablefortheareabeingnavigated.Timespentinthechartroomistobelimitedtoessentialnavigationalduties.8Atsea,gyroandmagneticcompassesaretobecomparedfrequentlyandanazimuthbearingistobetakenaftereverymajorcoursealteration,oratleastonceperwatch.9AllincomingradioorVHFwarningsaretobedrawntotheattentionoftheMaster(navigational,weatherforecasts,etc.).10OfficersaretoreadtheCompanyRegulationsandcarryoutthedutiesprescribedtherein.OfficersarealsotocomplywithallStateregulationsandaretobeconversantwithallcurrent'M'Notices,StatutoryInstrumentsandCoastGuardrequirements.11AllOOWsaretofamiliarisethemselveswiththesectionontropicalstormscontainedintheMarinersHandbook(pages95-99)andtocalltheMasterimmediatelyifanyoftheprecursorysignsofatropicaldepressionareobserved.Inanyevent,theMasteristobenotifiedimmediatelyofanyfallinbarometricpressureof3mbormoreinanyperiodoflessthanfourhours.Thepracticeofloggingweatherdetailsattheendofeachwatchistobecontinuedinport.12UNDERPILOTAGE.Anaccuraterecordoftheship'spassage(passingbreakwaters,buoys,etc.)istobekeptintheMovementBook,togetherwithdetailsofallwhistlesignalsandspeedreductionswhilstpassingothervessels,mooringsorshoreinstallations.13ATANCHORAGE.Useanyorallofthenavigationalaidstomonitorthevessel'spositionandtherelativepositionsofotherships.Shoretransitbearingsaretobeusedwheneverpossibleasthequickestmeansofdetectingadragginganchor.14Mostanchorages,howeversheltered,canbecomeuntenableinaveryshortspaceoftimeinsuddenbadweather.ItisthereforeoftheutmostimportancethatatthefirstsignsofdeterioratingweatherthemainengineisputonimmediatenoticeandtheMasterandBosuncalled.15INPORT.ForthewholeperiodofhiswatchtheOOWisresponsibleforthesafetyoftheshipandthecorrectstowageandoperationofcargowork,inthatorder,andheshouldensurethat:-a)Gangwaysarefittedwithaproperlyriggedsafetynet,welllit,andaShoreLeaveBoardfitted.TheMaster/ChiefOfficeraretobeconsultedforexpirationofshoreleave.NodeckofficerorcrewmemberistogoTHENAUTICALINSTITUTE—12—ashorewithoutfirstinformingtheChiefOfficer,orinhisabsence,theMaster.b)Priortooperation,theship'scranesaretobethoroughlyinspectedbytheOOWtoensurethatallsecuringdeviceshavebeenreleasedandthatthecranerailsarefreeofobstructions.c)Duringbunkeringallscuppersaretobeplugged,appropriatesignalsdisplayedandsawdust,anemptyoildrumandafoamfireextinguisherplacedneartothebunkerconnection.Adeckofficermustalwaysbeupandaboutwheneverbunkersaretaken,evenifcargoworkisfinishedornottakingplaceandtheship'sOilContingencyPlancompliedwith.d)Anyhydraulicspillsaretobecleanedupimmediately.e)AnydeviationfromtheagreedloadingprocedureistobebroughttotheChiefOfficer'sorMaster'sattentionimmediately.f)Anydamagetotheship,ship'sequipmentorcargo,causedbystevedores,istobedrawnimmediatelytotheattentionoftheGangForemanorSupervisorandtheChiefOfficerorMasterbeinformedimmediately.g)Mooringsorandgangwaysaretobecheckedregularly,especiallyinportswhereswellsurgesareexperienced.h)AnydelayincargoworkoffiveminutesormoreistobereportedtotheMasterpriortosailingfromthatport.NoLogBookentriesconcerningthedelayaretobemadeuntiltheMasterorChiefOfficerisconsulted.i)TheChiefOfficeristobenotifiedimmediatelyintheeventofanydamagedcargoorholedcontainersareloaded.j)Astowawaysearchistobecarriedoutpriortodeparture.ThedutyEngineeristobekeptinformedofallcurrentETSandgeartestedonehourpriortodeparture.k)Anycranedefects,especiallyinvolvingpossibleoverrideuse,aretobereportedtotheChiefOfficerimmediately.Agoodofficer,whenfacedwithanyunusualcircumstance,willapplyCOMMONSENSEANDTHEGOODPRACTICEOFSEAMENtothesituationandactaccordingly.IfyoufindyourselfthinkingaboutcallingtheMasterthenthetimehasclearlycometodoso.Allofficersaretosignanddatetheseordersatthecommencementofeachvoyage.R.U.SureMasterChiefOfficerSecondOfficerThirdOfficerDate............................Date............................Date............................—13—BRIDGEWATCHKEEPINGPRE-DEPARTURECHECKLISTBRIDGEANDNAVIGATIONALEQUIPMENTM.VGoldenRulecheckedandverified1.Gyroandrepeatersswitchedonandsynchronized□2.Magneticcompassandgyrorepeaterheadingschecked□3.Echosounderchecked□4.Speed/distancerecorderchecked□5.Electronicnavigationaidschecked□6.Clockssynchronized(includingengineroom)□7.Plotterrecorderreadyforuse□8.Enginerevolutionindicatorchecked□9.Primaryandemergencynavigationlightstestedandchecked□10.Propellerandruddercheckedclearofobstruction□11."Notundercommand"andanchorlightsandshapeschecked□12.Steeringgeartestedbothinprimaryandsecondarysystems(bothmotorstoberunningwhenmanoeuvring)□13.Auto-pilotandchange-overarrangementstested(SOLASChapterV,Regulation19-2)□14.Mainenginesreadyandtelegraphstested□15.Bridgecommunicationsequipment(internal,externalandportable)tested□16.Signallinglampstested□17.Whistletested(ifallowedbythePort'sRegulations)□18.Bridgewindowwipers/clearviewscreenstested□19.Deckpoweravailable□20.Arrangementsforpilotembarkation/disembarkationinc.oversidelighting,heavingline,pilotladder,lifebuoy,etcchecked□21.Binocularsavailable□22.Chartsandnavigationalpublications,i.e.NoticestoMariners,etc.,correcteduptodateandcoursesplottedonthechart□23.Latestweatherreportsandnavigationalwarningsreceivedandavailable□24.Passageplanprepared.Almanac,TideTables,etc.,confirmedavailableonboard□25.Enginemovementrecorderchecked□26.Anchorsclearedawayandreadyforuse□27.Mooringwinchesandcapstansingoodworkingorder□28.Crewcheckedonboard□29.Crewattheirstationsforleavingharbour□30.Documents,CertificatesandLogBookchecked□31.Securitychecked,stowawaysandunauthorisedpersonnelsearchedfor□Oncompletionofthepre-departurechecksthisformistobesignedbytheresponsibleofficerandhandedtotheMaster.Port............................................................Signed........................................Date............................................THENAUTICALINSTITUTE—14—TheOOWshouldreceiveareportfromtheengineroomthatvariouscheckshavebeencarriedout.Thesewillinclude:TheenginesarereadyformanoeuvringPowerisavailablefordeckmachinerysuchaswinches,windlassandthegangwaymotorAuxil