duties of ship personnel

8/8/2019 Duties of Ship Personnel

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DUTIES OF SHIPS CREW

Duties of Seamen in Ship's Deck Department

Officers, Bosn, Able Seamen and Ordinary Seamen run this department

The many and varied duties of the deck department are probably the most importantand interesting aboard a merchant ship. Upon those who spend their working hourstopside falls a burden that ranges from chipping and scaling paint to the actualnavigation of the vessel.

Merchant ships differ in size and complement, but the average ship that sails the sevenseas today, bringing material to our country and those of our neighbors, generally

conforms to a single pattern of manpower. The duties of those men also run true toform, more or less, but as the saying goes among seamen -- different ship, differentlong splice. All of which is translated as meaning that different ships and masters havetheir own way of doing things. Generally, however, they are similar.

Starting at the bottom is the Ordinary Seaman (OS) whose duties actually are to assistthe able seaman. In reality, however, he is the deck utility man and may be called uponto do any one of many tasks.

The ordinary may be called upon to stand a lookout, to scale and chip paint, to paint,handle lines in the mooring of the ship, and to assist in the actual tying up and letting go

of the vessel. The ordinary also assists in the handling and operation of all deck gearsuch as topping, cradling and housing of booms and he may also be asked to aid thecarpenter in repair work.It is likely that the ordinary may be allowed to act as helmsman, to read the draftmarkings or to act as cargo watch in the loading and discharging of cargo.

Calling the watch (the awakening of men, including officers, who are slated to go onwatch, or to so remind them if they are awake) is another of the important duties of theordinary. He also assists in emergency drills (lifeboat, abandon ship and fire) and keepsthe passageways and heads in shipshape condition on the 4 to 8 watch. He may alsowork aloft or over the side.

The Able Seaman (AB), by law, must be able to perform any deck duties aside fromthe actual navigation of the vessel. In general his duties include the ability to splice wireor fibre line, to work aloft and over the side of the ship, to operate the deck machinerysuch as the windlass or winches, to paint and mix paint, to know the principles of cargostowage, to be a good wheelsman and competent lookout, to overhaul and install anyrunning or standing rigging on the ship, and to be able to sew, repair and mend canvas.

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The AB must be a competent and certified lifeboatman, able to handle a lifeboat underoars or sail. He must know lifeboat equipment and be able to assume the duties of thecoxn or man in charge of the lifeboat. It will also be the duty of the AB to maintain thebridge in a clean and shipshape condition.

Next on the way up the deck department ladder is the Bosn (Boatswain), seniorunlicensed man on the ship. He is the direct contact between the crew and the chiefmate and he may be likened to a foreman in any industrial plant.

The Bosn must be an experienced seaman and is held responsible for anything andeverything in the maintenance, care and protection of deck equipment and deck cargo.He also supervises the securing of the ship for sea and the loading and discharging ofcargo. In addition, the Bosn assists the chief mate in ordering the deck stores.

The duties of the ship's Carpenter (Chips) are numerous. He is likely to be called uponto perform work which, in many cases, is beyond that which the term carpenter implies

ashore. In short, he is both a seaman and a mechanic.

In addition to doing temporary or permanent wood construction aboard ship with handtools, he is responsible for the operation of the anchor windlass, seeing that hatchwedges are driven properly, that the deck cargo is properly lashed and that the hatchbattens are in place and secure.

The carpenter also repairs blocks, keeps the lifeboat davits in good order, buildstemporary or permanent partitions, shores or braces weakened or damaged bulkheads,rigs a collision mat, builds a soft patch in the event of bulging or collision, replacesbroken rivets and he will assume command of an emergency crew to repair damage in

event of a collision.

A Quartermasteris not a fixture on all vessels. On the larger ships, he is primarily awheelsman and maintains the bridge and its equipment in shipshape order. He isconversant with signaling procedure, stands a gangway watch in port (responsible forthe safety and security of the ship as well as escorting persons aboard who havebusiness) and he is able to perform the duties of an able seaman (splicing line, reavinga halyard, etc.).

Day men, those who work with the Bosn, are usually picked for outstanding ability.They work from 0800 to 1700 and stand no night watches. Their duties are the

maintenance of the ship, which includes operating the anchor windlass, winches andother deck machinery.

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Perched upon the "readybox," the Bo's'n, whodirects the daily activities ofseamen in the deckdepartment performs one ofhis duties aboard ship --that of sewing and mendingthe canvas.

Splicing rope and wire areamong the specific duties ofthe able seaman aboard avessel. Here a seamanperforms one of his specialties

splicing rope -- in the well-stocked Bosns locker.

Painting is definitely on thelist of duties which fell tothe lot of the ordinaryseaman aboard ship. Twoordinaries are painting thefiddley, the housing builtaround the smokestack.

The Third Mate is the junior deck officer and normally stands the 8 to 12 watch. He isresponsible for all life-saving equipment. In addition, the third mate keeps the ships log,

follows the captains orders, and assists in the navigation of the vessel. In port, he willassist or supervise in the loading and discharging of cargo. His place is on the bridgewith the captain while docking.

The Second Mate, usually the navigation officer, plots courses and takes celestial andterrestrial fixes. The second mate also handles the after deck when tying up. He standsthe 12 to 4 watch.

The First or Chief Mate is responsible for the maintenance of the ship and properstowage of cargo. He handles the fore deck in tying up, is a good navigator, a thoroughseaman, possesses the necessary qualities of leadership and will assume command of

the vessel in the event of the masters death or inability to command the ship. He standsthe 4 to 8 watch.

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Second Mate, thenavigation officer, takes abearing on an object withthe Pelorus.

Officer on watch may be thefirst, second or third mate.His station is up on thebridge and he commands theship in the captainsabsence. Here he soundsthe ships whistle during afog.

Radio Operator sendsmessages Mostly hemonitors the radio

Which brings us to the Captain who is lord and master of all he surveys. Actually histitle is Master. He is in charge of everything and everyone aboard ship. He must be as

closely acquainted with the stewards department and the engine department as he iswith the bridge and he must know the reason for every job performed aboard his vessel.

It should be remembered that the Master is the agent of the company which owns theship and is not a member of the crew. He represents the company in every operation ofthe ship under his command. His is the full responsibility of the ship. Although he standsno watches he will always be found, in the event of foul weather or fog, on the weatherside of the bridge until the danger is over, even though such foul weather lasts for 24,48 or even 72 hours at a stretch.

In any emergency the captain will be up on the bridge conning his ship, despite the fact

that he may have sunk exhausted on his bunk after a long vigil just three hours ago.

The captain also may act in the Shipping Commissioners capacity in signing off a crewafter a coastwise trip. It is required of a master, as well as all his mates, that he have afirst aid certificate and be capable of administering, if necessary, to the medical needsof the crew.

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Any one of the deck officers from the Third Mate up will be in charge of any one of thelifeboats in abandoning ship.

When a ship is at sea, the watches are usually four hours on and eight hours off, but thecrew may be broken out at any time in the event of an emergency. While in port,

watches are usually broken. The crew works from 0800 to 1700 with an hour for chow.The ordinary or able seamen agree among themselves, as a general rule, as to whichwill stand the gangway watch at night.

It is important to remember that although every man in the deck department has specificduties, he must be absolutely familiar with the duties of the men who rank above him.

Duties of Motormen in Ship's Engineroom Department

Engineers, Donkey men, Motormen/Oilers and Wipers run this department

MOTORMAN/OILER

At sea the main engine usually turns at a steady speed although in manoeuvering the speed will

quite often be varied from time to time. The oiler makes regular rounds usually every half hourfeeling all of the various bearings on the main engine and oiling them. He also must swab the

piston rods and valve stems. He also feels of the thrust bearing and travels down the shaft alley

feeling and oiling the spring bearings and feeling the stern gland and looking to see if sea wateris running through.

In between his regular rounds the oiler checks the engine room auxiliaries, refrigerating systemand steering engine. He should know how to stop the main engine should it become necessary

and the engineer were absent.

It is the oiler's duty to learn everything possible in connection with the operation of the vessel's

power plant, because when opportunity comes for advancement he will be able to qualify for the

position of watch engineer.

All oilers should thoroughly understand the operation of the different types of lubricating oilpressure and gravity systems for turbine lubrication.

The actual oiling of the machinery takes up but little of the oiler's time. However, he should have

the plant under his constant surveillance.

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The oiler's watch at sea is of four hours, with eight hours off in between. In port on some vessels,

his duties consist of day work, while on other vessels his watch is eight hours long, with sixteen

hours off in between.

During his watch, the oiler is probably called upon to do one or all of the following. Pump out

the bilges, pump up fresh water or ballast tanks, keep an eye on the water level in the boilers andon the fireman, take temperatures of the stack, sea water, filter box, and feedwater for entrance

into the logbook, keep oil wiped up off the floor plates and gratings, and on some ships he has a

station to keep clean.

In port his work consists mainly of oiling the auxiliaries, and in assisting in the maintenance and

repair of the plant. He may be called upon to oil and watch the cargo winches during the night if

the cargo is being worked at that time.

His is a responsible job; his negligence may result in damage to machinery to the extent of

thousands of dollars.

The Wiper's Job

The wiper is not a qualified member of the engine room in the true sense of the position. He is an

all-around worker in the Engine Department of an oil-fired vessel. His is the only position open

in that department for beginners and others not qualified in the more responsible ratings. The

wiper washes paintwork, chips, scrapes, paints, and performs all those various duties tending tomaintain the machinery spaces in a clean condition.

Where overhauling and repair work of boilers and machinery is carried on, the wiper helps invarious ways, and it is through the knowledge that he gains while doing this work that he

prepares himself for advancement.

Since he is first, last, and always a seaman, he should be familiar with nautical terms. He should

realize the importance of emergency drills, know his stations in each, and be able to fulfill his

part should the necessity arise to combat fire or abandon ship. As an engine department workerhe should have an interest in mechanics, and be familiar with the names and the purposes of all

the units in the power plant of the vessel.

Generally he is a day worker, and is not assigned to a watch. He should, as quickly as possible,familiarize himself with the hazards of using oil fuels, and operating pressure vessels.

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duties of ship personnel

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