Sailor’s working day on board

1. Name the time correctly:

8.00 am; 7.25 pm; 10.20 am; 2.00 pm; 5.30 pm; 8.10 pm; 11.15 am; 6.40 pm ; 1.55 am; 4.45 pm.

2. Look at the different way of telling time on shore and at sea

Complete the table as if you are at sea

You write You say
1 7.00 am 0700 zero seven hundred hours
2 9.25 am 0925
3 6.40 pm eighteen forty
4 10.30 am
5 1.00 pm
6 5.35 pm
7 8.48 am
8 11.15 pm
9 4.00 am
1 3.50 pm
0
1 2.10 pm
1
1 6.05 am
2

3. Read the text and fill in the gaps:

Competition; dirt; Quarters; meeting; emergency drills; gangway; supplies; wake; keep
watch; crewmembers; underway; scrub down; necessary; scrapper

My name is John. I am a sailor. My working day on the ship is long and hard. I ________ up
at 6 o'clock, get dressed, make my bed, or rack as we call it on the ship, and take care of morning
hygiene. At 6.30 am I go to the rating`s messroom to have breakfast. Every morning at 7:00, all
deck`s _____________________ gather for Quarters.  This is a daily ______________ with our
Chief and Officers that provides an opportunity to go over the day’s work assignments and any
announcements from the chain of command .
After ______________ I work on Deck. My main job is painting. Also I ______________ the
deck and wash it. Before painting a clean and wash the deck equipment to remove all salt,
________________ and oil. Then I remove loose paint with a __________ and any heavy rust with
a chipping gun. The boatswain ______________ me with paint, buckets and brushes which I take
from the paint locker and I start.
At 11:30 I have lunch. After lunch if the ship is _____________ I keep watch on the
navigating bridge. I keep one watch from 12 to 16. I look ahead. If it _________ I can turn the helm
to port or to starboard. I steer a steady course.
When the ship in the port I as a Watchmen ______________ at the gangway. I meet visitors
and ask them to produce proper identification. I must look all doors leading to the superstructure and
if necessary to the storeroom. I must keep the ___________ area clear.
Everyday, we conduct _______________.  In the middle of the ocean, we can’t call 911 in an
emergency; our survival depends on each other and our training so we practice responding to all
different types of situations. These drills often turn into a friendly __________ between the different
emergency response teams on the ship, each competing for the best time.

4. Are the following statements true or false? Correct the false ones:
1. John wakes up at 7 o`clock.
2. After breakfast the sailor doesn`t work on the deck.
3. The sailor scrub down and wash the deck.
4. John doesn`t clean deck equipment before painting.
5. The boatswain supplies John with equipment.
6. When the ship is underway he as a Watchmen keeps watch at the gangway.
7. John keeps one watch from 1600 to 2000.
8. He keeps his watch at the gangway when the vessel is in the port.
9. Once a month ship`s crew have emergency training.
10. These drills are friendly competitions.

Grammar

7. Complete the sentences in Present Continuous:

1 The Master is signing the document sign

2 The Chief ______________________the alarm. test
3 The electrician ______________________ the radio. repair
4 The sailors ______________________ the wall. paint
5 The messboy ______________________in the messroom. work
6 The AB ______________________ the cargo. load
7 The Second Officer and OS ______________________Watch on the keep
bridge.
8 Crew ______________________ ashore. go
9 The welder ______________________with the third engineer. talk
10 The motorman ______________________ the pump. check
8. Choose the correct variant:
1. The Chief Mate always (is keeping his watch/keeps his watch) on the bridge.
2. The Cook (is preparing/prepares) at the moment.
3. The passengers (are speaking/ speak) with The Master now.
4. The Third Officer (is steering/ steers) the vessel right now.
5. The engineers usually (are working/ work) in the engine room.
6. The steward (is cleaning/cleans) his cabin every morning.
7. The ratings (are using/ use) the crane for handling cargo.
8. The crew (is watching/ watch) news on TV every evening at 8 o`clock.

Home task

1. Can you imagine your first day on board? Describe it in your e-mail to your parents or
friend:
To:
From:
Subject:
2. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb:
1. The Rules of the Sea __________________(say) that safety at sea is very important.
2. It`s night and we __________________ (sleep).
3. I usually ____________ (use) file and hammer at my work.
4. What _____________ you ______________ (do) there? We __________________ (examine) the
anchor chain.
5. I ___________ (hope) to finish this work in 20 minutes.
6. My friend _________ (sail) once a year.
7. At the moment I __________________ (prime) before painting.
8. They __________ (need) to turn the vessel as soon as possible.
9. I always _________ (follow) officers` commands.
10. A tanker ________ ( not, carry) oil on deck.
11. Motorman ______________ (not, smoke) in the engine room.
12. The ship ___________ ( not, be) in a good condition.
13. What`s the matter? Why _____________ this motorman _____________ (not, work).
14. The cargo loading ____________ (start) at 6 o`clock.
15. Our ship seldom ___________ (come) to this port.

4. Fill in the gaps by HAVE or HAS:

1. I ____________ experience.
2. My ship ____________ life boats.
3. You ____________ a visa.
4. The Third Officer ____________ a job.
5. Our ship ____________ 6 tanks.
6. Officers ____________ lunch at noon.
7. The port ____________ tugs.