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Maintain a
Safe Navigational Watch
Keeping a Navigational Watch
Responsibilities
regarding avoidance of Collision and Grounding
The officer of the watch is the eyes and
the brain of a ship – in the absence of the Master who may not be available on
the Bridge always – though he may be called.
This important aspect should not be
forgotten by the OOW. He is the only person who would have to take a decision
to avoid immediate danger and has to also take the step to call up the Master
for taking over when he cannot handle the situation – this should not be looked
upon as in competence rather a call well in time would be much appreciated
rather than have a collision.
The OOW may not face many decision making
instances everyday, and if the scenario does appear so, then the Master would
be on hand to lend advise.
On normal navigation duties the OOW has to
strictly follow the Rules of the Road (COLREG’s) and
should not deviate from the spirit.
A casual attitude would be disastrous, in case of any doubt he should call the Master.
All actions to avoid a collision and
stranding should be made as stated in the Rules, well in time. So that the OOW
would be able to assess his action and have adequate time to take further
actions if the action is not helpful.
The OOW should at all times have the
Company’s Order book (for Navigation) as well as the Master’s standing orders
open on the Chart table.
This may be looked upon as frivolous but
in case of any doubt about a situation, these lines of instructions help in
making a decision.
One of the most important thing is to remember that at all times the lives of many
depend on him to make the correct decision. If the OOW feels he is unwell to
perform his duties he has to bring the same to the Masters notice and asked to
be relieved. Some cases when all the OOW and the Master are overworked, then he
has to put in a special effort to rise above the situation. Rule Six and seven
should be never forgotten and should be form the back bone of all navigating
decisions.
Watch
keeping at sea
Principles
applying to watch keeping generally
The following principles shall be observed
to ensure that safe watches are maintained at all times.
The master of every ship is bound to
ensure that watch keeping arrangements are adequate for maintaining a safe
navigational watch. Under the master’s general direction, the officers of the
navigational watch are responsible for navigating the ship safely during their
periods of duty, when they will be particularly concerned with avoiding
collision and stranding.
Protection
of marine environment
The master, officers and ratings shall be
aware of the serious effects of operational or accidental pollution of the
marine environment and shall take all possible precautions to prevent such
pollution, particularly within the framework of relevant international and port
regulations.
Principles
to be observed in keeping a navigational watch
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch is the master’s representative and is primarily responsible at all times
for the safe navigation of the ship and for complying with the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972.
Look-out
A proper look-out shall be maintained at
all times in compliance with rule 5 of the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 and shall serve the purpose of:
.1 maintaining a continuous state of
vigilance by sight and hearing as well as by all other available means, with
regard to any significant change in the operating environment;
.2 fully
appraising the situation and the risk of collision, stranding and other dangers
to navigation; and
.3 detecting
ships or aircraft in distress, shipwrecked persons, wrecks, debris and other
hazards to safe navigation.
The look-out must be able to give full
attention to the keeping of a proper look-out and no other duties shall be
undertaken or assigned which could interfere with that task.
The duties of the look-out and helmsperson
are separate and the helmsperson shall not be considered to be the look-out
while steering, except in small ships where an unobstructed all-round view is
provided at the steering position and there is no impairment of night vision or
other impediment to the keeping of a proper look-out. The officer in charge of
the navigational watch may be the sole look-out in daylight provided that on
each such occasion:
.1 the situation
has been carefully assessed and it has been established without doubt that it
is safe to do so;
.2 full account
has been taken of all relevant factors including, but not limited to:
- state of
weather,
- visibility,
- traffic
density,
- proximity of
dangers to navigation, and
- the attention
necessary when navigating in or near traffic separation schemes; and
.3 assistance
is immediately available to be summoned to the bridge when any change in the
situation so requires.
In determining that the composition of the
navigational watch is adequate to ensure that a proper look-out can
continuously be maintained, the master shall take into account all relevant
factors, including those described in this section of the Code, as well as the
following factors:
.1 visibility, state of weather and sea;
.2 traffic density,
and other activities occurring in the area in which the vessel is navigating;
.3 the attention
necessary when navigating in or near traffic separation schemes or other
routeing measures;
.4 the additional
workload caused by the nature of the ship’s functions, immediate operating
requirements and anticipated manoeuvres;
.5 the fitness
for duty of any crew members on call who are assigned as members of the watch;
.6 knowledge of and confidence in the
professional competence of the ship’s officers and crew;
.7 the experience
of each officer of the navigational watch, and the familiarity of that officer
with the ship’s equipment, procedures, and manoeuvring capability;
.8 activities taking place on board the
ship at any particular time, including radio communication activities and the
availability of assistance to be summoned immediately to the bridge when
necessary;
.9 the operational
status of bridge instrumentation and controls, including alarm systems;
.10 rudder and propeller control and ship
manoeuvring characteristics;
.11 the size of
the ship and the field of vision available from the conning position;
.12 the
configuration of the bridge, to the extent such configuration might inhibit a
member of the watch from detecting by sight or hearing any external
development; and
.13 any other
relevant standard, procedure or guidance relating to watch keeping arrangements
and fitness for duty which has been adopted by the Organization.
Watch
arrangements
The following shall be taken into account:
.1 at no time
shall the bridge be left unattended;
.2 weather conditions, visibility and
whether there is daylight or darkness;
.3 proximity of
navigational hazards which may make it necessary for the officer in charge of
the watch to carry out additional navigational duties;
.4 use and operational condition of
navigational aids such as radar or electronic position-indicating devices and
any other equipment affecting the safe navigation of the ship;
.5 whether the
ship is fitted with automatic steering;
.6 whether there
are radio duties to be performed;
.7 unmanned machinery space (UMS)
controls, alarms and indicators provided on the bridge, procedures for their
use and limitations; and
.8 any unusual
demands on the navigational watch that may arise as a result of special
operational circumstances.
Taking
over the watch
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall not hand over the watch to the relieving officer if there is reason
to believe that the latter is not capable of carrying out the watch keeping
duties effectively, in which case the master shall be notified.
The relieving officer shall ensure that
the members of the relieving watch are fully capable of performing their
duties, particularly as regards their adjustment to night vision. Relieving
officers shall not take over the watch until their vision is fully adjusted to
the light conditions.
Prior to taking over the watch relieving officers
shall satisfy themselves as to the ship’s estimated or true position and
confirm its intended track, course and speed, and UMS controls as appropriate
and shall note any dangers to navigation expected to be encountered during
their watch.
Relieving officers shall personally
satisfy themselves regarding the:
.1 standing orders and other special
instructions of the master relating to navigation of the ship;
.2 position, course, speed and draught of
the ship;
.3 prevailing and predicted tides, currents,
weather, visibility and the effect of these factors upon course and speed;
.4 procedures for the use of main engines
to manoeuvre when the main engines are on bridge control; and
.5 navigational situation,
including but not limited to:
.5.1 the operational condition of all
navigational and safety equipment being used or likely to be used during the
watch,
.5.2 the errors of gyro and magnetic
compasses,
.5.3 the presence and movement of ships in
sight or known to be in the vicinity,
.5.4 the conditions and hazards likely to
be encountered during the watch, and
.5.5 the possible effects of heel, trim,
water density and squat on under keel clearance.
If at any time the officer in charge of
the navigational watch is to be relieved when a manoeuvre or other action to
avoid any hazard is taking place, the relief of that officer shall be deferred
until such action has been completed.
Performing
the navigational watch
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall:
.1 keep the watch
on the bridge;
.2 in no circumstances leave the bridge
until properly relieved;
.3 continue to be responsible for the safe
navigation of the ship, despite the presence of the master on the bridge, until
informed specifically that the master has assumed that responsibility and this
is mutually understood; and
.4 notify the
master when in any doubt as to what action to take in the interest of safety.
During the watch the course steered,
position and speed shall be checked at sufficiently frequent intervals, using
any available navigational aids necessary, to ensure that the ship follows the
planned course.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall have full knowledge of the location and operation of all safety and
navigational equipment on board the ship and shall be aware and take account of
the operating limitations of such equipment.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall not be assigned or undertake any duties which would interfere with
the safe navigation of the ship.
Officers of the navigational watch shall
make the most effective use of all navigational equipment at their disposal.
When using radar, the officer in charge of
the navigational watch shall bear in mind the necessity to comply at all times
with the provisions on the use of radar contained in the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, in force.
In cases of need the officer in charge of
the navigational watch shall not hesitate to use the helm, engines and sound
signalling apparatus. However, timely notice of intended variations of engine
speed shall be given where possible or effective use made of UMS engine
controls provided on the bridge in accordance with the applicable procedures.
Officers of the navigational watch shall
know the handling characteristics of their ship, including its stopping
distances, and should appreciate that other ships may have different handling
characteristics.
A proper record shall be kept during the
watch of the movements and activities relating to the navigation of the ship.
It is of special importance that at all
times the officer in charge of the navigational watch ensures that a proper
look-out is maintained. In a ship with a separate chart room the officer in
charge of the navigational watch may visit the chart room, when essential, for
a short period for the necessary performance of navigational duties, but shall
first ensure that it is safe to do so and that proper look-out is maintained.
Operational tests of shipboard
navigational equipment shall be carried out at sea as frequently as practicable
and as circumstances permit, in particular before hazardous conditions
affecting navigation are expected. Whenever appropriate, these tests shall be
recorded. Such tests shall also be carried out prior to port arrival and
departure.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall make regular checks to ensure that:
.1 the person
steering the ship or the automatic pilot is steering the correct course;
.2 the standard
compass error is determined at least once a watch and, when possible, after any
major alteration of course; the standard and gyro-compasses are frequently
compared and repeaters are synchronized with their master compass;
.3 the automatic
pilot is tested manually at least once a watch;
.4 the navigation
and signal lights and other navigational equipment are functioning properly;
.5 the radio
equipment is functioning properly in accordance with paragraph 86 of this
section; and
.6 the UMS
controls, alarms and indicators are functioning properly.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall bear in mind the necessity to comply at all times with the
requirements in force of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea, (SOLAS) 1974 (including latest amendments). The officer of the
navigational watch shall take into account:
.1 the need to
station a person to steer the ship and to put the steering into manual control
in good time to allow any potentially hazardous situation to be dealt with in a
safe manner; and
.2 that with a ship under automatic
steering it is highly dangerous to allow a situation to develop to the point
where the officer in charge of the navigational watch is without assistance and
has to break the continuity of the look-out in order to take emergency action.
Officers of the navigational watch shall
be thoroughly familiar with the use of all electronic navigational aids
carried, including their capabilities and limitations, and shall use each of
these aids when appropriate and shall bear in mind that the echo-sounder is a
valuable navigational aid.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall use the radar whenever restricted visibility is encountered or
expected, and at all times in congested waters having due regard to its
limitations.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall ensure that range scales employed are changed at sufficiently
frequent intervals so that echoes are detected as early as possible. It shall
be borne in mind that small or poor echoes may escape detection.
Whenever radar is in use, the officer in
charge of the navigational watch shall select an appropriate range scale and
observe the display carefully, and shall ensure that plotting or systematic
analysis is commenced in ample time.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall notify the master immediately:
.1 if restricted
visibility is encountered or expected;
.2 if the traffic
conditions or the movements of other ships are causing concern;
.3 if difficulty
is experienced in maintaining course;
.4 on failure to
sight land, a navigation mark or to obtain soundings by the expected time;
.5 if, unexpectedly, land or a navigation
mark is sighted or a change in soundings occurs;
.6 on breakdown of the engines, propulsion
machinery remote control, steering gear or any essential navigational
equipment, alarm or indicator;
.7 if the radio
equipment malfunctions;
.8 in heavy
weather, if in any doubt about the possibility of weather damage;
.9 if the ship
meets any hazard to navigation, such as ice or a derelict; and
.10 in any other
emergency or if in any doubt.
Despite the requirement to notify the
master immediately in the foregoing circumstances, the officer in charge of the
navigational watch shall in addition not hesitate to take immediate action for
the safety of the ship, where circumstances so require.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall give watchkeeping personnel all
appropriate instructions and information which will ensure the keeping of a
safe watch, including a proper look-out.
Watch
keeping under different conditions and in different areas
Clear
weather
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall take frequent and accurate compass bearings of approaching ships as
a means of early detection of risk of collision and bear in mind that such risk
may sometimes exist even when an appreciable bearing change is evident,
particularly when approaching a very large ship or a tow or when approaching a
ship at close range. The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall also
take early and positive action in compliance with the applicable International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 and subsequently check that
such action is having the desired effect.
In clear weather, whenever possible, the
officer in charge of the navigational watch shall carry out radar practice.
Restricted
visibility
When restricted visibility is encountered
or expected, the first responsibility of the officer in charge of the
navigational watch is to comply with the relevant rules of the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 with particular regard to
the sounding of fog signals, proceeding at a safe speed and having the engines
ready for immediate manoeuvre. In addition, the officer in charge of the
navigational watch shall:
.1 inform the
master;
.2 post a proper
look-out;
.3 exhibit navigation lights; and
.4 operate and
use the radar.
In hours of darkness
The master and the officer in charge of
the navigational watch when arranging look-out duty shall have due regard to
the bridge equipment and navigational aids available for use, their
limitations; procedures and safeguards implemented.
Coastal
and congested waters
The largest scale chart on board, suitable
for the area and corrected with the latest available information, shall be
used. Fixes shall be taken at frequent intervals, and shall be carried out by
more than one method whenever circumstances allow.
The officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall positively identify all relevant navigation marks.
Navigation
with pilot on board
Despite the duties and obligations of
pilots, their presence on board does not relieve the master or officer in
charge of the navigational watch from their duties and obligations for the
safety of the ship. The master and the pilot shall exchange information
regarding navigation procedures, local conditions and the ship’s
characteristics. The master and/or the officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall co-operate closely with the pilot and maintain an accurate check on
the ship’s position and movement.
If in any doubt as to the pilot’s actions
or intentions, the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall seek
clarification from the pilot and, if doubt still exists, shall notify the
master immediately and take whatever action is necessary before the master
arrives.
Ship
at anchor
If the master considers it necessary, a
continuous navigational watch shall be maintained at anchor. While at anchor,
the officer in charge of the navigational watch shall:
.1 determine and
plot the ship’s position on the appropriate chart as soon as practicable;
.2 when circumstances permit, check at
sufficiently frequent intervals whether the ship is remaining securely at
anchor by taking bearings of fixed navigation marks or readily identifiable
shore objects;
.3 ensure that
proper look-out is maintained;
.4 ensure that
inspection rounds of the ship are made periodically;
.5 observe
meteorological and tidal conditions and the state of the sea;
.6 notify the master and undertake all
necessary measures if the ship drags anchor;
.7 ensure that the
state of readiness of the main engines and other machinery is in accordance
with the master’s instructions;
.8 if visibility
deteriorates, notify the master;
.9 ensure that the ship exhibits the
appropriate lights and shapes and that appropriate sound signals are made in
accordance with all applicable regulations; and
.10 take measures
to protect the environment from pollution by the ship and comply with
applicable pollution regulations.