Bridge Watchkeeping & Safety on Ships, Roles of OOW, Precautions, Duties, Responsibilities, Etc.
Information to be provided by Pilot Pilot Mr. _______________ Date ________ Please provide following information to the Master:
Use of critical /anchors (planned or emergency).
Enclosed Space Entry Permit:- This permit relates to entry into any enclosed space and should be completed by the master or responsible person and by any persons entering the space, e.g. competent person and attendant.
Precautions to be taken prior, during and after entering enclosed space:
Many factors can cause you to lose situational awareness, data not observed, either because it is difficult to observe or your scanning of the environment is deficient due to:
Principles of Bridge Resource Management (BRM):
Importance of Bridge Resource Management on board & factors that affect the effective use of BRM with onboard situation:
BRM tends to develop confidence in each individual, as it focuses on the human factor so hence enables to fulfill the various requirements of charter party without compromising with ship’s safety. How to effectively use the various resources such as Navigational Equipment on the bridge and available man power for safe keeping a safe navigational watch at sea based on the principle of Bridge Resource Management:Effectively use of Various resources with respect to Navigational Equipment: A mariner has many resources available to him for safe passage planning and execution and monitoring. Some examples include:
Implementing Bridge Resource Management on my vessel:- The Master can implement BRM by considering and addressing the following:
Factors to be taken into account when determining bridge manning levels:Determination of minimum safe manning levels (SOLAS CHAPTER V – Annex 2):-
Define ‘Emergency’. How does SOLAS ensure that ship’s crew can deal with various emergencies that may arise? Describe how this achieved on your last ship:Emergency:- A serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. To ensure that Ship’s crew can deal with various emergencies, Emergency Training & Drills are given as per SOLAS Regulation 19 Regulation 19 Emergency training and drills
Leadership with respect to bridge resource management principles:Explanation:- (Prepare your answer based on the Marks) Leadership: Becoming an effective leader is not easy, it requires Part Skill Development and Part Experience. Leadership is Action and not Position. Leadership Principles: A principle is a “Tested form of Action”, proven useful in the skill of leadership in isolation, principles are ineffective – must be applied based on the situation. The Leadership Principles need to have these qualities:
Effective Communication with the respect to Bridge Resource Management Principles:Effective Communication: Communication is at the heart of any relationship, be it familial, business, romantic, or friendly.
Types of Communication: Verbal Communication:
Non-verbal Communication:
Effective Verbal Communication:
Formal Communication:
Informal Communication:
Communication through Body Language:
Bridge Team Management:The OOW is in charge of the Bridge Team, until properly relieved, in compliance with the SMS and Master’s Standing Orders. This responsibility extends to ensuring that bridge watch manning levels are at all times maintained at a safe level for the prevailing circumstances and conditions. An OOW should be on watch on the bridge at all times at sea or at anchor. All members of the Bridge Team including look-outs and any helmsmen should be fit for duty. Importance of Communication in Bridge Team Management:IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATIONVerbal Communication:
Non – Verbal Communication: Complements verbal communication by:
Debriefs – An Aid to Effective Communication: Debriefs should be held as they:
Dis-advantages of Ineffective Communication:
Guidelines for Effective Bridge Communication:
Importance of ‘Feedback’ for effective communication on bridge:Effective feedback is critical as it:
Assertiveness with on board examples:Assertiveness is the ability to communicate what you feel is correct in an open and honest manner possibly without hurting the feelings of others. Passive Behavior: Failing to state your needs, wants, opinions, feelings or beliefs in direct honest and appropriate ways, Stating them in a way that others can easily disregard them. Aggressive Behavior: Ignoring or dismissing the needs, wants, opinions, feelings, or beliefs of others. Expressing your own needs or wants in inappropriate ways. Importance of Assertiveness:
Guidelines for being assertive:
Applicability on ship board work:
The initial and early sighting of the fallen crew plays a vital role in increasing the percentage of saving his/her life. The actions for an MOB mentioned below are extremely urgent and must be taken without any delay to save the life of the person who has fallen overboard.
The engines are not stopped immediately to keep the person away from the propeller. The same is the case for wheel hard over to the side of the casualty as it is done to keep the stern away from the casualty. Screaming about the MOB at the instant that the mishap is realized is of paramount importance to use all manpower available for immediate use. The lifebuoy also adds to the lifesaving process as the smoke signal leaves a conspicuous mark by the day or night. It is also important to pick up the lifebuoy to not confuse any other ships passing by about the status of the MOB. They must not assume that there is a MOB in the vicinity and proceed towards helping the person when he has already been rescued. Entries in the Ship’s Logbook hold great legal importance and should be made carefully. Always try to succeed in the first attempt as even a little delay can cause a human life. The Williamson Turn:
The Scharnow Turn:
The Anderson Turn:
Prepare your vessel for encountering heavy weather/ rain at Sea:
Mentioned below are the Distress Signals which are used by Vessels: Use of these signals except for the purpose of indicating distress is prohibited: Distress Signals which are used by VesselsFire in a cargo hold at Sea:-
Actions to fight an Engine Room fire while your vessel is at sea:
Actions in case of Engine Room fire at Port:
Procedure to enter Engine Room After Fire:
Five likely causes of a fire emergency on board with their precautions:Fire causes and precautions:- It is noted that the maximum number fires on ships initiates in the ship’s accommodation area due to negligence of the ship’s staff. A ship accommodation is an area where the crew member’s cabin is located along with galley, recreational room, meeting room etc. The best way to avoid incidents of fire on ship is to take preventive measures than to suffer later.
Safe Lookout / Sole Lookout as per STCW:
Actions to be taken in case of dragging anchor & delay in readiness of the engines:
Responsibility of the OOW in the following in circumstances: Action on receiving storm warning
While keeping bridge watch at sea, Actions to be taken when following alarms are activated: Gyro failure
In the meantime, to check Instruction Manual for troubleshooting guide.
P.S.:- Watch should not be taken over when course is being altered for traffic or in case of a way point. Responsibility of the OOW in the following in circumstances: Approaching a portResponsibility of the OOW – Approaching a port:
Taking over an anchor watch:-
Additionally,
Control Testing:Within twelve hours before departure of the ship from port, following systems to be checked and tested:
Following listed procedure must be included along with the check and tests described above:
Other Important requirements related to steering gear are:
Procedure for testing of controls prior departure from port:Steering Gear – Testing and Drills: Within twelve hours before departure of the ship from port, following systems to be checked and tested:
Following listed procedure must be included along with the check and tests described above:
Other Important requirements related to steering gear are:
Procedure for embarking a Pilot:Procedures for pilotage – Embarkation & disembarkation:-
The Officer on Watch (OOW) when on duty is in charge of the ship’s navigation and safety. While on the bridge, he is the representative of the ship’s master and must carry out all the orders as put forth by the latter. While navigating the ship, the officer in charge has to take independent decisions to ensure a smooth passage of the ship. However, every shipping company provides a list of situations, wherein the officer on watch must call the ship’s master to the bridge to avoid any kind of danger for the ship. These instructions are given in the shipboard operational procedures, and it is imperative for every OOW to follow them. Below is the checklist of situations, wherein the officer on watch should call the ship’s master:-
Apart from the above mentioned situations, the officer in charge should always call the master in case of an emergency or when in doubt about a particular situation. Once on the ship, the master would take the control of the ship. This has to be recorded in the ship’s logbook. Take over a bridge watch, during night and while navigating in piracy prone areas:
PS:- Watch should not be taken over when course is being altered for traffic or in case of a way point. Entries to be made in the radar Log at the end of your watch at sea:
Ans:- Crossing situation in traffic separation scheme (vessel A using traffic separation scheme has vessel B on her own starboard side) TSS you observe a vessel crossing from you Starboard side, on a Collision courseDescription of scenario TSS:
Rule(s) to be applied during TSS:
Traffic Separation Scheme (Rules of the Road – Rule 10):-
Bridge Procedure Guide:- The Bridge Procedures Guide (BPG) is an International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) publication that aims to reflect Best Practice aboard Merchant Ships embracing standards and recommendations promoted by the IMO. This includes the concept of ‘continuous improvement’ as described in the ISM Code and the watchkeeping requirements of STCW Chapter VIII. Questions on the content of the bridge procedures guide make a regular appearance in both SQA and oral examinations. PART A: GUIDANCE FOR MASTERS AND WATCH KEEPING OFFICERS
ANNEX OF BRIDGE PROCEDURE GUIDE
PART B: BRIDGE CHECKLISTS
PART C: EMERGENCY CHECKLISTS
As per Bridge procedure guide, Duties of the officer of the watch:The Officer of the Watch (OOW) is the Master’s representative and is responsible at all times for the safe navigation of the ship, in full compliance with the Convention on time International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). The presence of the Master on the bridge does not relieve the OOW of responsibility for the watch. A decision by the Master to assume responsibility for the watch should be unambiguously advised to the OOW and other members of the Bridge Team. The OOW should comply with the requirements of the SMS and the Master’s standing and daily orders. Compliance ensures that agreed and robust procedures which promote safety and mitigate risks are followed by Bridge Teams to execute and monitor the passage plan. The primary duty of the OOW is to maintain a safe navigational watch at sea or at anchor, which will require ensuring:
Purpose of the log book:Deck log book:- The Deck log book is an important document and serves as necessary evidence in case of any Accidents and Casualties. It must contain Factual Entries with Time in each entry. It is essential that clear and accurate record of the activities of the ship are kept, as the Log book will form a main part of the collection of evidence in case of any incidents. Vessel’s official language is mentioned on very first page of the log book. Record of Pilotage events during watch:
Broaching
Pooping
Transverse Thrust
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