Officer of the Officer of the WatchWatch Bridge Bridge

WatchkeepingWatchkeepingQuestions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

2

From which sources would you From which sources would you obtain information about obtain information about

your OOW duties? your OOW duties? ►The STCW convention resolution on The STCW convention resolution on

bridge watch keeping, company bridge watch keeping, company navigational instructions, masters navigational instructions, masters standing orders, masters night standing orders, masters night orders, masters verbal orders. orders, masters verbal orders.

3

What reports are expected from What reports are expected from the engine room to the the engine room to the bridge prior to sailing? bridge prior to sailing?

►The main engines are ready for The main engines are ready for maneuvering, power is available for maneuvering, power is available for deck machinery, control systems are deck machinery, control systems are tested, communications are tested, tested, communications are tested, steering gear telegraph and control steering gear telegraph and control system to check with the bridge.system to check with the bridge.

4

How would you monitor the How would you monitor the navigation of the pilot? navigation of the pilot?

► By familiarising yourself with the intended By familiarising yourself with the intended pilotage passage and the tracks laid down on pilotage passage and the tracks laid down on the chart in accordance with the pilots the chart in accordance with the pilots briefing. briefing.

► Knowing the intended course to be steered Knowing the intended course to be steered and establishing the ship's speed and and establishing the ship's speed and monitoring progress. monitoring progress.

► Independently fix the ship's position and note Independently fix the ship's position and note the times of passing buoys. Note the distance the times of passing buoys. Note the distance off radar conspicuous land. Monitor the depth off radar conspicuous land. Monitor the depth recorder against the chart. Observe traffic. recorder against the chart. Observe traffic.

5

You are alone on the bridge with the You are alone on the bridge with the pilot and you notice a course pilot and you notice a course

alteration which you do not think is alteration which you do not think is

correct. What you going to do?correct. What you going to do? ► As OOW you have a duty to query any As OOW you have a duty to query any

unexpected deviation from the pilotage unexpected deviation from the pilotage plan. plan.

► Ask the pilot was the action was intended. If Ask the pilot was the action was intended. If appropriate ask the pilot to check the appropriate ask the pilot to check the heading of the steering position to verify heading of the steering position to verify any compass error. any compass error.

► If concerned about any deviation from the If concerned about any deviation from the plan or the safety of the ship you would call plan or the safety of the ship you would call the master. the master.

6

Why must the pilot ladder be Why must the pilot ladder be rigged so that it does not rigged so that it does not

touch the water? touch the water?

► If the bottom of the ladder was in the If the bottom of the ladder was in the water it would be caught by the water it would be caught by the movement of the sea, particularly if movement of the sea, particularly if the ship was moving through the the ship was moving through the water. water.

►This would be dangerous and could This would be dangerous and could cause the pilots to be thrown from the cause the pilots to be thrown from the ladder. ladder.

7

Which should take priority Which should take priority navigation or collision navigation or collision

avoidance? Why? avoidance? Why?

► In coastal waters, clear of In coastal waters, clear of obstructions, collision avoidance must obstructions, collision avoidance must take priority as this provides the most take priority as this provides the most immediate threat. immediate threat.

► It is desirable to have a regular fix It is desirable to have a regular fix interval as this makes the estimation interval as this makes the estimation of the next fix position easier. of the next fix position easier.

8

What advantages does the eye What advantages does the eye have over the radar?have over the radar?

► The eye has the following advantages; reliable, The eye has the following advantages; reliable, ► sensitive to colour, sensitive to colour, ► can assess heading, can assess heading, ► can identify a small targets, can identify a small targets, ► can see light configurations, can see light configurations, ► can assess ship types, can assess ship types, ► can identify conspicuous marks, can identify conspicuous marks, ► can identify flashing lights, can identify flashing lights, ► is better at discrimination, is better at discrimination, ► can see changing weather patterns, can see changing weather patterns, ► can see effect of sea on vessel, can see effect of sea on vessel, ► not affected by blind arcs if the observer moves!! not affected by blind arcs if the observer moves!!

9

When would you instruct a look When would you instruct a look out to assist you on the out to assist you on the

bridge?bridge?

►You should post a look out; in You should post a look out; in accordance with standing orders, accordance with standing orders, when visibility deteriorates, when when visibility deteriorates, when occupied what bridge work which occupied what bridge work which requires special attention, whenever requires special attention, whenever extra assistance is required, if there is extra assistance is required, if there is an emergency, like man overboard. an emergency, like man overboard.

10

What preparations would you What preparations would you take when making a landfall take when making a landfall

in poor visibility? in poor visibility?

► Call the master in accordance with Call the master in accordance with instructions. instructions.

► Post a look out to assist in searching for other Post a look out to assist in searching for other vessels and fishing vessels in the vicinity. vessels and fishing vessels in the vicinity.

►Have the depth recorder running and the Have the depth recorder running and the maximum number of radars. maximum number of radars.

► Ensure that ENS are working correctly. Ensure that ENS are working correctly. ► Follow the policy on the closing of watertight Follow the policy on the closing of watertight

doors. doors.

11

How can the OOW best assist How can the OOW best assist the master when the master when

approaching an anchorage? approaching an anchorage?

►Discuss the plan. Discuss the plan. ►Provide bearings and distances. Provide bearings and distances. ►Control and monitor the engines. Control and monitor the engines. ►Monitor the steering. Monitor the steering. ►Keep a good lookout for other ships Keep a good lookout for other ships

moving. moving. ►Relay messages. Relay messages.

12

What are various options are What are various options are available to ship at anchor available to ship at anchor when faced with threat of when faced with threat of

collision from an oncoming collision from an oncoming ship? ship?

►Sound of the whistle, flash the Aldus, Sound of the whistle, flash the Aldus, try calling on VHF. If possible use the try calling on VHF. If possible use the engines and or the rudder to create a engines and or the rudder to create a sheer. Call the Chief Officer to go sheer. Call the Chief Officer to go forward urgently to let go the brake. forward urgently to let go the brake. Inform the master as early as possible. Inform the master as early as possible.

13

Apart from navigational safety, Apart from navigational safety, what else would you do on what else would you do on

anchor watch? anchor watch?

►Monitor communications, Monitor communications, ►comply with the collision regulations comply with the collision regulations

for a vessel at anchor, for a vessel at anchor, ►maintain a security watch. maintain a security watch.

14

If the master and yourself are If the master and yourself are using the same ARPA what using the same ARPA what

should you check? should you check?

►The long range from time to time. Also The long range from time to time. Also verify the range each time in case the verify the range each time in case the master has changed it from a previous master has changed it from a previous setting. setting.

►Check the speed input, particularly if it Check the speed input, particularly if it is being fed in manually. is being fed in manually.

► Inform master of any changes made to Inform master of any changes made to setting on the radar. setting on the radar.

15

As the relieving OOW there is an As the relieving OOW there is an instruction in the bridge instruction in the bridge orders you do not fully orders you do not fully

understand. What do you do? understand. What do you do?

►Call the master and ask for Call the master and ask for clarification. clarification.

16

The master has left instructions for alteration The master has left instructions for alteration of course at the time of the watch of course at the time of the watch

changeover. Traffic in the area prevents changeover. Traffic in the area prevents this course alteration from taking place. this course alteration from taking place. What action should the relieving officer What action should the relieving officer

take?take? ►The course alteration should take The course alteration should take

place at the time when it is safe in place at the time when it is safe in terms of the position of the ship and terms of the position of the ship and the traffic in the area. If the OOW is in the traffic in the area. If the OOW is in doubt as to when he can accomplish doubt as to when he can accomplish this course alteration he should inform this course alteration he should inform the Master of the circumstances. the Master of the circumstances.

17

What would you do if third What would you do if third engineer phoned the bridge engineer phoned the bridge

to say that the fitter had to say that the fitter had fallen and broken his leg?fallen and broken his leg?

►Make a quick look out around the ship Make a quick look out around the ship to ensure the ship was not at risk. to ensure the ship was not at risk.

► I would then inform the Master and I would then inform the Master and alert the leader of the emergency alert the leader of the emergency response team and the designated response team and the designated medical officer. medical officer.

18

What would you do if you What would you do if you observing a ship on radar on observing a ship on radar on a collision course when the a collision course when the gyro- compass failure alarm gyro- compass failure alarm

sounded? sounded? ►A gyro failure could be critical and A gyro failure could be critical and

could cause the ship to change course could cause the ship to change course unpredictably. I would put the ship into unpredictably. I would put the ship into hand steering and steer by magnetic hand steering and steer by magnetic compass to avoid any danger and call compass to avoid any danger and call the master. The gyro failure could then the master. The gyro failure could then be investigated. be investigated.

19

You are alone on the bridge at You are alone on the bridge at night with a pilot in an night with a pilot in an

estuary and the ship has estuary and the ship has blacked out. What you do? blacked out. What you do?

►Call the master and the appropriate Call the master and the appropriate officer forward. Maintain steering using officer forward. Maintain steering using the emergency system. If the internal the emergency system. If the internal limitation system has failed i would limitation system has failed i would use hand-held radios to communicate use hand-held radios to communicate with the fo'c'sle. Then switch on the with the fo'c'sle. Then switch on the NUC lights.NUC lights.

20

You are the OOW of a power You are the OOW of a power driven vessel. Which vessels driven vessel. Which vessels

must you keep out of the must you keep out of the way of?way of?

► IRPCS Rule 18. A vessel not under IRPCS Rule 18. A vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in ability command, a vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre, a vessel engaged in to manoeuvre, a vessel engaged in fishing, a sailing vessel. fishing, a sailing vessel.

21

Why is record keeping a Why is record keeping a necessary part of watch necessary part of watch

keeping? keeping?

►To free the mind. To free the mind. ►To keep an accurate record of events, To keep an accurate record of events, ►to establish trends, to establish trends, ►to provide evidence in the event of an to provide evidence in the event of an

incident. incident.

22

When would you sound of the When would you sound of the general alarm? general alarm?

►Only in the real emergencies. Only in the real emergencies. ►When the OOW needs urgent When the OOW needs urgent

assistance or when the vessel is in assistance or when the vessel is in immediate danger and when other immediate danger and when other methods of calling personnel are in methods of calling personnel are in adequate. adequate.

23

When examining the chart, prior When examining the chart, prior to taking over the watch, to taking over the watch,

what will you be looking for? what will you be looking for? ► Note to ship's position and work out where Note to ship's position and work out where

you would expect to be at the end of the you would expect to be at the end of the watch. watch.

► Examine and the track and note that is Examine and the track and note that is correct the followed on from any chart correct the followed on from any chart changes. changes.

► Verify the track and the compass courses Verify the track and the compass courses covering your watch. Note buoys, lights or covering your watch. Note buoys, lights or any other conspicuous navigational mark that any other conspicuous navigational mark that you would expect to see in the next half hour. you would expect to see in the next half hour. Note the expected tidal set. Note the expected tidal set.

► Read the master’s night orders and mark on Read the master’s night orders and mark on the chart when he requests a call. the chart when he requests a call.

24

Give some examples of when Give some examples of when you would call the master for you would call the master for

assistance. assistance.

► If you thought the ship might be put into If you thought the ship might be put into danger from a situation you could not control danger from a situation you could not control for example; a give way vessel standing on, a for example; a give way vessel standing on, a sudden increase in traffic density, sudden increase in traffic density, deteriorating visibility, the malfunction of any deteriorating visibility, the malfunction of any essential navigation equipment for example essential navigation equipment for example radar or steering gear. Reported problems radar or steering gear. Reported problems with the engines. Any emergency on board. with the engines. Any emergency on board. You should of course call the master in You should of course call the master in accordance with his instructions. accordance with his instructions.

25

What conditions must be What conditions must be satisfied by the OOW before satisfied by the OOW before taking over a bridge watch? taking over a bridge watch?

► Read and understand and a sign that masters standing Read and understand and a sign that masters standing orders. Check the ship's position, course planned and the orders. Check the ship's position, course planned and the course being steered, by gyro and magnetic compass. Check course being steered, by gyro and magnetic compass. Check the errors of the compass. Verify the ship speed and draft. the errors of the compass. Verify the ship speed and draft. Observed prevailing weather and sea conditions, visibility, sea Observed prevailing weather and sea conditions, visibility, sea state and tides. Understand the operational state of all state and tides. Understand the operational state of all navigational equipment. Be made aware of the presence and navigational equipment. Be made aware of the presence and movement of all traffic in the vicinity. Informed of the movement of all traffic in the vicinity. Informed of the conditions and hazards are likely to be encountered during conditions and hazards are likely to be encountered during the watch. Be aware of the effects of heel, trim, water density the watch. Be aware of the effects of heel, trim, water density and squat on the under keel clearance. Understand the state and squat on the under keel clearance. Understand the state of the internal ship's systems, engine and cargo monitoring, of the internal ship's systems, engine and cargo monitoring, communications and crew availability. Ensure the required communications and crew availability. Ensure the required lookout and helmsman, as appropriate, are on duty alert and lookout and helmsman, as appropriate, are on duty alert and properly instructed. properly instructed.

26

What action would you take in What action would you take in the event of a man the event of a man

overboard? overboard?

► Immediately release the bridge wings smoke Immediately release the bridge wings smoke marker floats. Sound the general alarm. Try marker floats. Sound the general alarm. Try to ensure the person stays in sight by posting to ensure the person stays in sight by posting lookouts. Turn the vessels to facilitate lookouts. Turn the vessels to facilitate recovery. Log the time and note to position of recovery. Log the time and note to position of the ship in case research is needed. Marked the ship in case research is needed. Marked the waypoint on the GPS receiver. Put the the waypoint on the GPS receiver. Put the engines on standby. Be ready to brief the engines on standby. Be ready to brief the master when it comes on the bridge. master when it comes on the bridge. Broadcast a mayday mayday mayday Broadcast a mayday mayday mayday message. Sound three long blasts to warn message. Sound three long blasts to warn other ships if they're in the vicinity. other ships if they're in the vicinity.