National Maritime Center (NMC)
Mariner Licensing and Documentation (MLD)
CHAPTER VIII
GUIDANCE REGARDING WATCHKEEPING
Section B-VIII/1 (back to top)
Guidance regarding fitness for duty
Prevention of fatigue
- 1 In observing the rest period requirements, "overriding operational
conditions" should be construed to mean only essential shipboard work
which cannot be delayed for safety or environmental reasons or which
could not reasonably have been anticipated at the commencement of the
voyage.
- 2 Although there is no universally accepted technical definition
of fatigue, everyone involved in ship operations should be alert to
the factors which can contribute to fatigue, including, but not limited
to those identified by the Organization,* and take them into account
when making decisions on ship operations.
- 3 In applying regulation VIII/1, the following should be taken into
account:
- .1 provisions made to prevent fatigue should ensure that excessive
or unreasonable overall working hours are not undertaken. In particular,
the minimum rest periods specified in Section A-VIII/1 should not
be interpreted as implying that all other hours may be devoted to
watchkeeping or other duties;
- .2 that the frequency and length of leave periods, and the granting
of compensatory leave, are material factors in preventing fatigue
from building up over a period of time;
- .3 the provisions may be varied for ships on short-sea voyages,
provided special safety arrangements are put in place; and
- 4 Administrations should consider the introduction of a requirement
that records of hours of work or rest of seafarers should be maintained
and that such records are inspected by the Administration at appropriate
intervals to ensure compliance with regulations concerning working hours
or rest periods.
- 5 Based on information received as a result of investigating maritime
casualties, Administrations should keep their provisions on prevention
of fatigue under review.
Section B-VIII/2 (back to top)
Guidance regarding watchkeeping arrangements and principles to be observed
- 1 The following operational guidance should be taken into account
by companies, masters and watchkeeping officers.
PART 1 - GUIDANCE ON CERTIFICATION
(No provisions)
PART 2 - GUIDANCE ON VOYAGE PLANNING
(No provisions)
PART 3 - GUIDANCE ON WATCHKEEPING AT SEA
(No provisions)
PART 3-1 - GUIDANCE ON KEEPING A NAVIGATIONAL WATCH
Introduction
- 2 Particular guidance may be necessary for special types of ships
as well as for ships carrying hazardous, dangerous, toxic or highly
flammable cargoes. The master should provide this operational guidance
as appropriate.
- 3 It is essential that officers in charge of the navigational watch
appreciate that the efficient performance of their duties is necessary
in the interests of the safety of life and property at sea and of preventing
pollution of the marine environment.
Bridge resource management
- 4 Companies should issue guidance on proper bridge procedures, and
promote the use of checklists appropriate to each ship taking into account
national and international guidance*.
- 5 Companies should also issue guidance to masters and officers in
charge of the navigational watch on each ship concerning the need for
continuously reassessing how bridge-watch resources are being allocated
and used, based on bridge resource management principles such as the
following:
PART 3-2 - GUIDANCE ON KEEPING AN ENGINEERING WATCH
- 6 Particular guidance may be necessary for special types of propulsion
systems or ancillary equipment and for ships carrying hazardous, dangerous,
toxic or highly flammable materials or other special types of cargo.
The chief engineer officer should provide this operational guidance
as appropriate.
- 7 It is essential that officers in charge of the engineering watch
appreciate that the efficient performance of engineering watchkeeping
duties is necessary in the interest of the safety of life and property
at sea and of preventing pollution of the marine environment.
- 8 The relieving officer, before assuming charge of the engineering
watch, should:
- .1 be familiar with the location and use of the equipment provided
for the safety of life in a hazardous or toxic environment;
- .2 ascertain that materials for the administration of emergency
medical first aid are readily available, particularly those required
for the treatment of burns and scalds; and
- .3 when in port, safely anchored or moored, be aware of:
- .3.1 cargo activities, the status of maintenance and repair
functions and all other operations affecting the watch, and
- .3.2 the auxiliary machinery in use for passenger or crew
accommodation services, cargo operations, operational water
supplies and exhaust systems.
PART 3-3 - GUIDANCE ON KEEPING A RADIO WATCH
General
- 9 Among other things, the Radio Regulations require that each ship
radio station is licensed, is under the ultimate authority of the master
or other person responsible for the ship and is only operated under
the control of adequately qualified personnel. The Radio Regulations
also require that a distress alert shall only be sent on the authority
of the master or other person responsible for the ship.
- 10 The master should bear in mind that all personnel assigned responsibility
for sending a distress alert must be instructed with regard to, be knowledgeable
of, and be able to operate properly, all radio equipment on the ship
as required by regulation I/14, paragraph 1.4. This should be recorded
in the deck or radio log-book.
Watchkeeping
- 11 In addition to the requirements concerning radiowatchkeeping,
the master of every seagoing ship should ensure that:
- .1 the ship's radio station is adequately manned for the purpose
of exchanging general communications - in particular public correspondence,
taking into account the constraints imposed by the duties of those
authorized to operate it; and
- .2 the radio equipment provided on board and, where fitted,
the reserve sources of energy, are maintained in an efficient working
condition.
- 12 Necessary instruction and information on use of radio equipment
and procedures for distress and safety purposes should be given periodically
to all relevant crew members by the person designated in the muster
list to have primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress
incidents. This should be recorded in the radio log.
- 13 The master of every ship not subject to the SOLAS Convention
should require that radio watchkeeping is adequately maintained as determined
by the Administration, taking into account the Radio Regulations.
Operational
- 14 Prior to sailing, the radio operator designated as having primary
responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should
ensure that:
- .1 all distress and safety radio equipment and the reserve source
of energy are in an efficient working condition, and that this is
recorded in the radio log;
- .2 all documents required by international agreement, notices
to ship radio stations and additional documents required by the
Administration are available and are corrected in accordance with
the latest supplements, and that any discrepancy is reported to
the master;
- .3 the radio clock is correctly set against standard time signals;
- .4 antennae are correctly positioned, undamaged and properly
connected; and
- .5 to the extent practicable, routine weather and navigational
warning messages for the area in which the ship will be navigating
are updated together with those for other areas requested by the
master, and that such messages are passed to the master.
- 15 On sailing and opening the station, the radio operator on watch
should:
- .1 listen on the appropriate distress frequencies for any possible
existing distress situation; and
- .2 send a traffic report (name, position and destination, etc.)
to the local coast station and any other appropriate coast station
from which general communications may be expected.
- 16 While the station is open, the radio operator on watch should:
- .1 check the radio clock against standard time signals at least
once a day;
- .2 send a traffic report when entering and on leaving the service
area of a coast station from which general communications might
be expected; and
- .3 transmit reports to ship reporting systems in accordance
with the instructions of the master.
- 17 While at sea, the radio operator designated as having primary
responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should
ensure the proper functioning of:
- .1 the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress and safety radio
equipment by means of a test call at least once each week; and
- .2 the distress and safety radio equipment by means of a test
at least once each day but without radiating any signal.
The results of these tests should be recorded in the radio log.
- 18 The radio operator designated to handle general communications
should ensure that an effective watch is maintained on those frequencies
on which communications are likely to be exchanged, having regard to
the position of the ship in relation to those coast stations and to
coast earth stations from which traffic may be expected. When exchanging
traffic, radio operators should follow the relevant ITU recommendations.
- 19 When closing the station on arrival at a port, the radio operator
on watch should advise the local coast station and other coast stations
with which contact has been maintained of the ship's arrival and of
the closing of the station.
- 20 When closing the radio station the radio operator designated
as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress
incidents should:
- .1 ensure that transmitting antennae are earthed; and
- .2 check that the reserve sources of energy are sufficiently
charged.
Distress alerts and procedures
- 21 The distress alert or distress call has absolute priority over
all other transmissions. All stations which receive such signals are
required by the Radio Regulations to immediately cease all transmissions
capable of interfering with distress communications.
- 22 In the case of a distress affecting own ship, the radio operator
designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications
during distress incidents should immediately assume responsibility for
following the procedures of the Radio Regulations and relevant ITU-R
Recommendations.
- 23 On receiving a distress alert:
- .1 the radio operator on watch should alert the master and,
if appropriate, the radio operator designated as having primary
responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents;
and
- .2 the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility
for radiocommunications during distress incidents should evaluate
the situation and immediately assume responsibility for following
the procedures of the Radio Regulations and relevant ITU-R Recommendations.
Urgency messages
- 24 In cases of urgency affecting own ship, the radio operator designated
as having responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents
should immediately assume responsibility for following the procedures
of the Radio Regulations and relevant ITU-R Recommendations.
- 25 In cases of communications relating to medical advice, the radio
operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications
during distress incidents should follow the procedures of the Radio
Regulations and adhere to the conditions as published in the relevant
international documentation (see paragraph 14.2) or as specified by
the satellite service provider.
- 26 In cases of communications relating to medical transports, as
defined in the Annex 1 to the Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions
of 12 August 1949 relating to the protection of victims of international
armed conflicts (Protocol 1), the radio operator designated as having
primary responsibility for radiocommunication during distress incidents
should follow the procedures of the Radio Regulations.
- 27 On receiving an urgency message, the radio operator on watch
should alert the master and, if appropriate, the radio operator designated
as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress
incidents.
Safety messages
- 28 When a safety message is to be transmitted, the master and the
radio operator on watch should follow the procedures of the Radio Regulations.
- 29 On receiving a safety message, the radio operator on watch should
note its content and act in accordance with the master's instructions.
- 30 Bridge-to-bridge communications should be exchanged on VHF channel
13. Bridge-to-bridge communications are described as "Intership Navigation
Safety Communications" in the Radio Regulations.
Radio records
- 31 Additional entries in the radio log should be made in accordance
with paragraphs 10, 12, 14, 17 and 33.
- 32 Unauthorized transmissions and incidents of harmful interference
should, if possible, be identified, recorded in the radio log and brought
to the attention of the Administration in compliance with the Radio
Regulations, together with an appropriate extract from the radio log.
Battery maintenance
- 33 Batteries providing a source of energy for any part of the radio
installation including those associated with uninterrupted power supplies
are the responsibility of the radio operator designated as having primary
responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents and
should be:
- .1 tested on-load and off-load daily and, where necessary, brought
up to the fully charged condition;
- .2 tested once per week by means of a hydrometer where practicable,
or where a hydrometer cannot be used, by a suitable load test; and
- .3 checked once per month for the security of each battery and
its connections and the condition of the batteries and their compartment
or compartments.
The results of these tests should be recorded in the radio log.
PART 4 - GUIDANCE ON WATCHKEEPING IN PORT
(No provisions)
PART 5 - GUIDANCE ON PREVENTION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE*
- 34 Drug and alcohol abuse directly affect the fitness and ability
of a seafarer to perform watchkeeping duties. Seafarers found to be
under the influence of drugs or alcohol should not be permitted to perform
watchkeeping duties until they are no longer impaired in their ability
to perform those duties.
- 35 Administrations should consider developing national legislation:
- .1 prescribing a maximum of 0.08% blood alcohol level (BAC)
during watchkeeping duty as a minimum safety standard on their ships;
and
- .2 prohibiting the consumption of alcohol within 4 hours prior
to serving as a member of a watch.
Drug and alcohol abuse screening program guidelines
- 36 The Administration should ensure that adequate measures are taken
to prevent alcohol and drugs from impairing the ability of watchkeeping
personnel, and should establish screening programs as necessary which:
- .1 identify drug and alcohol abuse;
- .2 respect the dignity, privacy, confidentiality and fundamental
legal rights of the individuals concerned; and
- .3 take into account relevant international guidelines*.
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