OOW Responsibilities

Sanmar Shipping Limited

Contents

1.Deck Watch Officers’ Duties and Responsibilities.....................................................................2

1.1 Keeping good navigational watch..........................................................................................3
1.2 Hand-over of the watch........................................................................................................4
1.3 Fire patrols...........................................................................................................................4

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OOW Responsibilities
Sanmar Shipping Limited

A. Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to assign the duties and responsibilities of watch officers.

B. References:

 Bridge Watch keeping, published by the Nautical Institute

 ISM code (Element 6, 7)
 TMSA (Element 5)

C. Procedure
1.Deck Watch Officers’ Duties and Responsibilities

Masters may enhance the duties and responsibilities listed in this part by expanding upon them at their
discretion at any time to improve the safe operation of the vessel.
Deck Watch Officers are the master’s representatives and are responsible to the Master for the vessel's
safe navigation, in compliance with COLREGS laws and regulations.
Deck Watch Officers must remember that the safety of personnel, environment, vessel, and cargo is their
responsibility whenever they have the conn.
The Officer of the Watch continues to be responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel despite the
presence of the Master on the bridge until the Master informs him specifically that he has assumed
responsibility. Similarly, the Master shall expressly and formally inform the O.O.W whenever he hands over
the conning and control of ship back to officer of watch.
Deck Watch Officers are responsible for carrying out the master’s verbal orders, and Master's Order Book
entries.
Deck Watch Officers must understand fully the various underway Bridge Watches and their duties under
each Bridge Watch condition.
If Deck Watch Officers are unclear about any of their duties, they shall inform the Master immediately.
In an emergency, Deck Watch Officers must take any prudent actions necessary to ensure the safety of the
vessel. Emergency checklists are provided in Company’s Emergency Response Plan and
SOPEP-SMPEP/VRP.
Good seamanship must be observed by all Deck Watch Officers. They and their subordinates on watch
shall be alert and attentive to their duties at all times.
Deck Watch Officers must realize that it is their responsibility to ensure that proper Lookouts are posted at
all times as good seamanship and the law require, and that these Lookouts are properly instructed in their
duties.
In order to assist the Master, Pilot, and/or Mooring Master, Deck Watch Officers must remain aware of all
navigational circumstances including traffic, shoal hazards, and possible equipment failure, so as to be able
to notify the Master and Conning Officer of any navigational developments they may not have noticed.

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OOW Responsibilities
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At sea, Deck Watch Officers shall fix the vessel's position at intervals stated in passage plan and marked on
paper and/or ENC charts.

Deck Watch Officers shall immediately inform the Master or Conning Officer of any significant discrepancy
between the vessel’s position and speed between positions.
Whenever the engines may be needed for maneuvering in restricted waters, Deck Watch Officers shall
notify the Engine Department well in advance to ensure that both generators are operational, and the main
propulsion unit is ready for maneuvering.
The O.O.W. has complete and unrestricted use of all navigational equipment’s and should make maximum
use of it.
The O.O.W. is to keep a close check on the steering. On each occasion of change of helmsman, he is to
check the course, compare the standard and wheelhouse compasses. When course is altered, the
compasses are to be compared and the error checked by observation.
At sea, the O.O.W shall maintain his watch and under no circumstances should he leave the bridge until
properly relieved.
It is the duty of the Officer of the watch to be aware of any work being carried out in the vicinity of the
radar and radio aerials, and of sound signaling apparatus, so that the appropriate warnings can be given
and warning notices to be hanged on equipment controls.
When at anchor, the O.O.W. is to be on the bridge. He is to frequently verify vessel anchor bearings
visually. If conditions suggest that the vessel may drag, the O.O.W. is to inform the Master and get main
engine ready.

1.1 Keeping good navigational watch

The Officer of the Watch is responsible for the maintenance of a continuous and alert watch.

In order to keep an efficient watch the Officer of the Watch should ensure the following:
1) An alert all-round visual and aural lookout to ensure a full grasp of the current situation including the
presence of ships and landmarks in the vicinity
2) Close observation of the movements and bearing of approaching vessels
3) Identification of ship and shore lights
4) Close monitoring that the course is being steered accurately and that wheel orders are correctly
executed
5) Observation of the radar and echo sounder displays
6) Observation of changes in the weather and visibility
7) Chart room visits are kept to a minimum
8) The absence of the lookout from the bridge is not allowed. If absolutely necessary, for example to visit
the rest room, etc. this shall be kept to minimum
9) The O.O.W. must confine his activities to navigational duties only. Use of mobile phones by bridge team
members is not permitted during watch keeping
10) The Officer of the watch should take frequently monitor bearing of approaching ships visually or by
radar and determine if risk of collision exists. 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. He should also take early and positive action in compliance with the
applicable regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

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OOW Responsibilities
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1.2 Hand-over of the watch

The Officer of the Watch must not hand over the watch to the relieving officer if there is reason to believe
that the latter's capabilities are in any way impaired and will thus prevent him from carrying out his duties
effectively. In such situations, the Officer of the Watch must immediately inform the Master.
The Hand-over must be postponed when the vessel is about to be, or is already, engaged in a collision
avoidance maneuver or an alteration of course, which must be completed prior hand over.
The outgoing Officer of the Watch must ensure that all members of the incoming bridge team are capable
of performing their duties. The relieving officer must ensure that his eyesight is fully adjusted to night
vision before taking over the watch during hours of darkness.
The relieving officer must fully acquaint himself with all information that he needs to perform his duties as
the Officer of the Watch, including the following:
1) Forthcoming alterations during the watch, if any
2) Environmental aspects causing concern or to be addressed
3) Security details
4) Availability of the lookout
5) Other aspects of the ship's operations, or any work in the vicinity of aerials and scanners, which may
be of importance to the Officer of the Watch.
Bridge watch changeover checklist DF -15 to be complied for watch changeovers.

1.3 Fire patrols

At Sea and at anchor, the Deck OOW and duty AB is to make rounds of the mess room, galleys, laundries,
drying rooms, accommodation etc. after the termination of his/her watch during hours of darkness
(between 2000 and 0600 hours). A plan showing the areas to be visited is to be drawn up and posted on
the bridge.
The results of these rounds are to be entered in the deck logbook.
The '"Deadman" alarm is to be activated each time the Duty Engineer attends an alarm at night in U.M.S.
mode, and when Fire & Safety rounds are made. If no “Deadman” alarm is fitted on board, a system must
be established to ensure that the OOW on the bridge is made aware when a solo entry is made into the ER
in UMS mode. The record of entry and exit time in the UMS condition should be maintained by the OOW on
the Bridge. These entries can be made in the Deck log and a specific log for Engine Room Status.

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