DECK WATCHKEEPING WITH BRM

(COURSE TITLE)

DW 2
(COURSE CODE)

3RD YEAR/ A. Y 2022-2023

(TERM/ ACADEMIC YEAR)

MODULE 12
(MODULE NUMBER)

CAPT. EMILIO F. TOLENTINO

(COURSE INSTRUCTOR)

TO BE CODE BY QMO
(DOCUMENT CODE)
DECK WATCHKEEPING 2

 Deck Watchkeeping with BRM

COURSE DESCRIPTION
 This course aims to provide student the knowledge and understanding of the steering
system, the principles of navigational watch, ship’s routing, blind pilotage techniques and
ship reporting systems. Deck watchkeeping 2, CO-1 is all about operational procedures of
steering control systems and the selection of the mode of steering suitable for the
prevailing weather, sea and traffic conditions and intended maneuvers. CO-2 is all
about assigned watchkeeping duties as part of the bridge team, in different weather, sea
and traffic conditions, utilizing all bridge equipment in ensuring the safety of
navigation. This course aims to provide students with necessary Knowledge,
Understanding and Proficiency in preparation for Navigation at operational level
competency. The competency level covered in this course is in accordance with the Table
A-II/1: Function 1: Navigation at the operational level; Competence-1: Plan and conduct a
passage and determine position and Competence-2: Maintain a safe navigational watch 
COURSE OUTCOME
 CO1: Explain the operational procedures of steering control systems and the
selection of the mode of steering suitable for the prevailing weather, sea and
traffic conditions and intended maneuvers

 CO2: Perform assigned watchkeeping duties as part of the bridge team, in

different weather, sea and traffic conditions, utilizing all bridge equipment in
ensuring the safety of navigation
MODULE 12
BRIDGE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

 Allocation of assigned resources as needed in correct priority to

perform necessary tasks.
 Communication standard
OVERVIEW OF THE MODULE

 Proper Bridge Communication Procedures

 Proper allocation of assigned resources as needed in correct priority to perform
necessary tasks
LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Examine the allocation of assigned resources as needed in correct priority
to perform necessary tasks
 Demonstrate a clear communication and unambiguously as to transmission
and reception of information
READINGS
 Bridge Procedures Guide, 4th. ed., International Chamber of Shipping,
London, Marisec Publications, 2007
 Bridge Team Management: A Practical Guide., Swift, Capt A.J., The Nautical
Institute, London, 1993 (ISBN 1-870077-14-8)
Bridge Resource Management
 Since the early years of shipping, safety has been a constant concern. Maritime
technology has dramatically changed the resources available to mariners.
 Sophisticated equipment and other automations provide new source of information
and assistance.
 Marine officers must develop new skills to utilize these new technologies
effectively.
Bridge Resource Management
 Bridge resource management or BRM was adopted in the early 1990s by the
maritime industry as a safety and error management tool and has now become an
integral part of crew’s training.
 BRM makes use of all available resources including equipment and information and
human resources to achieve safe operation.
 It has proven to be an important tool for improving safety in the maritime industry
and thus prevent the recurrence of incidents.
 BRM can be termed as the effective management and utilization of all resources,
human and technical, available to the bridge team, to ensure the safe completion of
the vessel’s voyage.
Bridge Resource Management
 BRM focuses on bridge officers’ skills such as teamwork, teambuilding,
communication, leadership, decision-making and resource management and
incorporates this into the larger picture of organizational and regulatory
management.
 BRM addresses the management of operational tasks, as well as stress, attitudes and
risk.
 BRM recognizes there are many elements of job effectiveness and safety, such as
individual, organizational, and regulatory factors, and they must be anticipated and
planned for.
 BRM begins before the voyage with the passage plan and continues through the end
of the voyage with the passage debrief.
Bridge Resources to Manage
 Electronic equipment (i.e. radar, depth sounder, GPS/DGPS, ARPA, gyro compass)
 Charts and publications, including electronic publications
 Environmental factors (i.e. tide, wind, currents)
 Electronic Charting and Display Information Systems (ECDIS)
 Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
Bridge Resources to Manage
 Passage plan
 Internal and external communication equipment
 NAVTEX
 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
 Persons with local knowledge (i.e. Pilot) Bridge Personnel (i.e. Master, Officer On
Watch (OOW), helmsman, lookout)
Sample of Bridge Resource Management
 Passage Plan Briefing - all bridge team members are briefed on the passage plan
and understand the intended route and procedures to transit the route.
 Bridge Manning – Master uses passage plan to anticipate areas of high workload
and risk and sets manning levels appropriately.
 Master’s Standing Orders – are read and signed before the commencement of the
voyage. Orders are clear on the chain of command, how decision and instructions
are given on the bridge and responded to, and how bridge team members bring
safety concerns to the notice of the Master.
Sample of Bridge Resource Management
 Master/Pilot Exchange – the passage plan is discussed by the Master and the pilot
and changes made as necessary. Any new information is communicated to the rest
of the bridge team. When the pilot is onboard he/she should be supported as a
temporary bridge team member.
 End of Voyage Debriefing – provides the opportunity for the bridge team to review
the passage plan’s strengths and weaknesses, make suggestions for improved safety
or communications, and improve team problem solving skills.
BRM and Teamwork
The Bridge Team has a plan and is well briefed will work effectively and be able to
develop and maintain good situational awareness. The Bridge Team should then be
able to anticipate dangerous situations and recognize the development of a sequence
of errors.
In order to ensure that chains of errors are identified and addressed as soon as
possible, an appropriate approach to raising safety concerns or doubt without any fear
of reprisal or ridicule is needed.
BRM and Teamwork
“Challenge and Response” is a leadership approach which has been demonstrated to
foster effective communication and teamwork. Under no circumstances should this
approach be considered as undermining the authority delegated to the OOW by the
Master.
Providing that this does not compromise the immediate safety of the ship, members of
the Bridge Team could be encouraged to:
 Seek clarification regarding the actions of other Bridge Team members with the aim
of better understanding the decision making process and
 Practice thinking aloud. This can also assist the development of junior officers by
encouraging them to discuss their actions openly.
Principles of Good Management Practices
 Shared view of goals;
 Delegation of responsibilities;
 Effective organization; and
 Sense of team ownership in achieving goals.
Critical Elements of BRM
Communication: The first cluster of BRM skills includes those related to effective
communication. Good communication between the crew members is the key to
successful BRM. The effective transfer of information is a complex process. It
requires information be conveyed when needed, understood and acknowledged by the
receiver and clarified if needed. In many cases it has been seen that the information
needed always existed but it was not made available to those who needed it at the right
time. The message was either not received or misunderstood.
Another common cause of major incidents was inaccurate, incomplete, ambiguous or
garbled messages.
Critical Elements of BRM
Communication: It is important for crew members to acknowledge and repeat orders
to ensure that they are well understood. Continuous interaction between humans and
equipment leads to the vessel being navigated in a safe and efficient manner.
It is the duty of all officers and crew members to cross check and cross question. Only
then effective communication can be achieved.
It is also important to maintain a common language on board the vessel so that
communication can become easier and quicker.
Critical Elements of BRM
Teamwork: BRM focuses on team building and team work. Working in a team helps
to address challenges together faced by crew members on a daily basis. A team
approach ensures that all crew members are involved in problem solving and are not
just mere spectators. We should borne in mind the famous proverb by Henry Ford,
‘Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is
success.
Team discussions are essential for learning and refining BRM.
Critical Elements of BRM
Teamwork: A good team should anticipate dangerous situations and recognize the
development of an error chain. On the bridge the watch officer and lookout personnel
should work as a team to ensure safe navigation. Safe and effective navigation is not
one man’s job as there are many aspects to be looked into. It is important that the
bridge team share a common view of the intended passage.
If in any doubt the lookout personnel should speak up. Every individual can contribute
in his/her best possible way and come up with better ideas when working as a team.
Critical Elements of BRM
Decision making: This is a key skill in effective BRM. Decision making seems to be
an individual matter. We all agree that captain is the final authority on board the ship.
However it is quite important for the decision maker to take valuable inputs from
officers and crew members. Before taking any decision it is vital to gather relevant
and pertinent information. A wrong decision taken can led to many unwanted
situations on-board ships.
It is therefore important to conduct regular meetings, interact with officers and crew
members and take opinions that can help to produce a final choice from several
available options and thus make a more deliberate and thoughtful decision .
Critical Elements of BRM
Decision making: Due to busy schedule and frequent port calls it is often not possible
to gather all the information in little time or to evaluate alternative solutions. In these
cases decision taken is mostly based on past experiences. Captain being the most
experienced person onboard is therefore regarded as the sole decision maker.
Reviewing the consequences of the decision taken is an integral part of decision
making.
Critical Elements of BRM
Situational awareness: Every mariner should think and plan well ahead of time.
Officers as well as crew members should be aware of the external and internal
conditions that can affect ship safety. Mariners should keep their eyes and ears open
and active at all times and be prepared for the unexpected.
It is always important to correlate what is going on in the present to what has gone on
in the past and what may go on in the future.
Critical Elements of BRM
Situational awareness:  Overlooking critical details or being indifferent to what is
going on around, both can lower situational awareness. We always need to be alert to
avert accidents. Paying attention to the on-going situation increases the response time
to safely handle an unexpected event. It is a common problem of getting preoccupied
with minor problems and losing sight of the big picture. Breakdown of situational
awareness can result in incidents and accidents.
Officers often tend to sit in front of the radar or stand in one position than strolling
from one side of the bridge wing to the other.
Critical Elements of BRM
Fatigue: Fatigue is a major issue among seafarers. Even though lot of automation has
been brought in to reduce the level of manning, the level of automation and level of
complexity people have to deal with can be very fatiguing in itself. Many accident
investigating report these days have fatigue as one of the main causes. A grounding or
collision for example caused by lack of attention by fatigued officer. The ability to
analyze is severely impaired due to tiredness. Seafarers often work extra hours to meet
the job orders on time so as not to upset their ship owners.
Seafarers always do not have the luxury to delay port arrivals or departure to
compensate with their rest hours. 
Critical Elements of BRM
The need to emphasize bridge resource management continues to be a long standing
effort. Good BRM is a culture that needs to be embraced and practiced.
Bridge Resource management is important to all seafarers in helping them to work
effectively in all situations. It is an attempt to improve human’s ability to perform
work using complex machinery while simultaneously creating a safe environment.
Human factors contribute to a vast majority of shipping related accidents. No one is
immune. Bad things can happen to anyone. One must recognize the risks and avoid
taking chances.
Safety is not something we have but we create it every day.
Importance of Clear Communication
At sea, the situation is very different. Your safety, along with the safety of crew and
vessel, is dependent on how well people communicate on the vessel. Not only the
safety concerns, but everyday life on the vessel can be “awkward” if the
communication process breaks down.
There is nowhere to retreat to or get away from the situation – the issues are full front
and center. Using the wrong wording or a “perceived” improper tone can easily lead to
mutiny.
Appropriate communication on the vessel will not only make it safer and maintain an
amicable attitude amongst crew, but will also make daily life much more pleasant.
Importance of Clear Communication
Focusing on two-way communication is the key to increasing safety on the vessel.
 Use standard, known, and agreed upon phrases to simplify the process and reduce
the chances of confusion
 Listen for ALL to respond to ensure the message has been received, decoded, and
the recipient is ready to act on the message
Importance of Clear Communication
Focusing on two-way communication is the key to increasing safety on the vessel.
 If feedback is not received or the feedback is not relevant to the expected response,
then the message must be repeated. You may have to enhance the message using
more volume or gestures. Remember that you are in a noisy environment and it can
be difficult to hear.
 Try to make eye or physical contact during the communication process. This will
improve awareness and effectiveness of the message.
Importance of Clear Communication
Effective communication on board a vessel also relies on crew members being good
listeners.
They must be attentive in order to receive and decipher the complete message, as well
as make the speaker feel heard and understood.
If the audience is not focused on the speaker, only part of the message is received,
resulting in frustration and hostility in both parties.
Importance of Clear Communication
There are other situations on a vessel that are not conducive to effective
communication – anchoring and docking come to mind. These can be stressful
situations, because at the same time the parties are trying to communicate, they are
focused on their individual task.
The crew members are separated by some distance, background noise levels are high,
and there is little or no eye contact.
That is, everything that you need for communication to be effective is removed from
the equation!
In these cases, it is important to come up with a plan of action and communicate it
with the crew prior to entering into the situation.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

 Write an essay about the allocation of assigned resources as needed in correct

priority to perform necessary task onboard.
REFERENCES
 https://www.marineinsight.com/guidelines/understanding-bridge-resource-management-and
-its-key-elements-on-board-ships/