Ship at Anchor

If the master considers it necessary, a continuous anchor watch should be maintained. The officer of the watch should:

(a) ensure that the vessel exhibits the appropriate lights and shapes and that in restricted visibility the appropriate sound signals are made;

(b) ensure that an efficient lookout is maintained;

(c) ensure that the state of readiness of the main engines and other machinery is in accordance with the master’s instructions;

(d) determine and plot the ship’s position on the appropriate chart as soon as practicable, and at sufficiently frequent intervals check this position by taking bearings of fixed navigational marks and/or marks monitored by automatic radar plotting aids or readily identifiable shore objects;

(e) observe weather, tidal and sea conditions;

(f) notify the master if the vessel drags its anchor and undertake all necessary remedial measures;

(g) notify the master if visibility deteriorates;

(h) ensure than an inspection of the vessel is made periodically;

(i) in appropriate circumstances maintain anti-piracy precautions as laid down in the master’s standing orders.

Ship’s Draught and Manoeuvring Information

The master should ensure that the draught of the ship is readily available to the officer of the watch throughout the voyage. The draught should be displayed in the wheelhouse and adjusted as necessary to take account of changes which occur as the voyage progresses. A nominated officer must ensure that changes in draught due to ballasting (particularly at sea) are calculated and properly recorded.

A wheelhouse poster containing general ship’s particulars and, where available, detailed information describing the manoeuvring characteristics of the ship should be permanently placed on the bridge. An example of a wheelhouse poster recommended internationally is reproduced at Annex 2. The operational status of propulsion machinery and navigational equipment should be noted next to or on this poster.

It should be borne in mind that the ship’s manoeuvrability information will not necessarily indicate the performance of the ship at any one time as this performance will vary according to the environmental hull and loading conditions experienced.

Bridge-Located Systems/System Controls — Monitoring and Operation.

The officer of the watch is responsible for monitoring other systems and their controls which are located on the bridge. These will include some or all of the following:

— fire detection;

— watertight integrity;

— machinery condition;

— radiocommunications (particularly the bridge watch M/F radio telephone receiver);

— ballast control;

— cargo humidity;

— reefer condition;

— gas pressure;

— other specialised requirements.

During critical phases enough manpower must be available to operate all system controls which are fitted on the bridge.

2. Answer the following questions

1. When should handover be deferred?

2. When should the officer of the watch not hand over the watch?

3. What should the relieving officer of the watch ensure?

4. What should the officer relieved do after handing over the watch?

5. Why should the officer of the watch make regular checks of the navigational equipment?

3. Comment on the situation what/who is more reliable and suitable for different situations: a helmsman or an automatic pilot?

4. Project activity. Summarize the steps for safe navigation in restricted visibility making a bridge poster.

5. Project activity. Summarize the situations when the master should be called to the bridge making the master’s standing order.

Unit 5

1. Read and translate the text