Maldecir, Niño B. POLARIS 3-A Feb.

10 , 2021

Deckwatch
Laboratory 2-3

2. Explain the Principle of effective Deck Watchkeeping

There is no greater navigators than us. Despite the advancement of technology and
the availability of equipments on board, it is still required that the OOW on duty should be
keen in observing the circumstances happening around and within the ship and should
effectively utilize all his senses to recognize any threats to the safety of navigation.

Parties shall direct the attention of companies, masters, chief engineer officers and
watchkeeping personnel to the following principles, which shall be observed to ensure that
safe watches are maintained at all times.

The master of every ship is bound to ensure that watchkeeping arrangements are
adequate for maintaining a safe navigational or cargo 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. The chief engineer officer of every ship is bound, in consultation with the
master, to ensure that watchkeeping arrangements are adequate to maintain a safe
engineering watch.

Watchkeeping personnel shall understand functions and operation of installations,

equipment, and be familiar with handling them;Watchkeeping personnel shall understand
information and how to respond to information from each station/installation/equipment;
information from the stations,installations,equipment shall be appropriately shared by all
the watchkeeping personnel.

It is important to note that the relieving officer during the watch is fit for duty. He
should be free from any influence of alcohol, fatigue, and other factors which may affect his
ability of perform as an effective OOW. The transfer of the watch keeping duties should be
mutually agreed by both parties involved so that proper information can be relayed
successfully and existing situations can be taken into account by the next who will be in
duty.
Maldecir, Niño B. POLARIS 3-A Feb. 10 , 2021

3. Explain the proper changeover of steering control from manual to automatic and
vice versa

The maritime companies now a days in coordination with concern industries have
already installed various navigational aids that allows mariners to have an easy operation
and perform specific tasks at ease. One of these modernization is the development of the
autopilot system which can be mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic that maintain the ship's
predetermined course. In this case, the crew or navigating officer is relieve from steering
manually. Auto pilot reduces workload among seafarers due to its efficient capacity in
moving the ship.

The changeover of steering control from manual to automatic and vice versa should
be done under the supervision of an OOW or the master himself. Manual steering should be
tested after a prolonged usage of automatic pilot in preparation when entering areas that
needs special caution.

After setting the auto-steering course in accordance to the given weather and
loading conditions, one can already change from Manual to Automatic Steering. A simple
operation of switching can be done anytime by putting the switch from Auto to Manual. The
steering must be changed from Auto to Manual once every watch and ship hand steered for
some time before setting to Auto again.