14.

0 General
An integral part of the navigation of the ship is the formal and organized
recording of all relevant events that occur during the watch.
Records should be made in such a manner as to be able to reconstruct
the whole operation being logged down at a later date should the need arise.
Records are kept for several reasons:
1) In the event of an accident, the court of enquiry and investigation that
follows requires a detailed record of events which are used to study the
case.
2) In the event of cargo alarm, delays, cargo damage etc. the cargo owners,
charterers and other interested parties usually require to inspect the Log
Books. Some charter parties require as standard procedure that copies of
log books be sent to their office.
3) Ship owners head offices also require copies of log books or log abstracts
to be sent for monitoring of ship’s performance and profits. Also to defend
against cargo claims and other damages.
4) Several logs are kept for important navigational instruments. These help to
monitor the performance and errors of the instrument and give the
navigator a good idea of the reliability of the instrument. These instrument
logs also help maintenance personnel to assess what repairs are required
periodically.
5) In modern ships, crew/officer changes are effected in a very short time
sometimes half an hour. In such cases, the relieving officers do not have
the benefit of being briefed by the out going crew and they would have to
depend on the log books to assess the reliability of the equipment.

Bearing in mind the above, it should be stressed that log books should
never be “flogged” (making incorrect entries) even though the temptation is great.
These logs can be found; such a document would be rendered useless and could
even be used against the ship. Logs books are also used in insurance claim
cases this is another reason why log books should be kept clean.
The actual details and procedures of maintaining log books and filling
them varies from company to company however, the basic framework remains
the same.

14.1 Deck (Mates) Log Book

This is the main record book maintained by the Bridge team. Entries
include:
1) Course steered gyro and magnetic, alteration of courses, compass errors
and set / leeway applied, log reading.
2) Weather, visibility experienced, pressure, temperature, wind force, skies etc.
3) Noon and other relevant positions, one fix per watch at least whenever
possible.
4) List of lookouts and helmsmen.
5) Sounding of bilges, ballast and peak tanks – AM and PM.
6) Sick list.

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 7) Signals and lights displayed e.g. NUC, navigation lights etc.
8) Remarks: positions of alteration course, compass error obtained, all relevant
happenings during the watch, fixes cargo operations e.g. hold ventilation,
inerting of cargo tanks, tank cleaning etc. Arrival / departure details – time of
anchoring, standby, ECP, berthing details, FEW, all fast F and a, tugs used,
controls tested, instruments found OK, any incidence of collision or
grounding.
9) In port, the deck log book is used for recording all operations and events
between FEW and SBE.

The entries are made by the Duty Mate and signed by him at the end of
his watch. Each day’s page is also signed by the Chief Mate and Master.

14.2 Azimuth (Compass Error) Log Book

Details of all azimuths observed and calculated are entered. Compass
(magnetic and gyro) error observed is recorded together with the ship’s head and
UTC. The celestial body observed is also entered too.
The compass error must be checked and entered at least once a watch
and signed.

14.3 Chronometer Journal

Record of the error and daily rate of each chronometer is kept. The error is
checked against a radio time signal and its error entered. Temperature in the
cabinet is also recorded.
The rate of change of error (daily rate) can be seen easily from the book
and thus extra polated.
If there is a winding chronometer then an entry is to be made when it is
run down and when it is restricted.
In the case of an electronic / quartz chronometer, date of change of
battery may be entered.

14.4 Sounding Log

This is a record book which is kept to log soundings taken by hand lead or
echo sounder. The soundings would usually be taken together with position fixes
so that they can be compared with charted depths. Notable events like time of
crossing 100m, 20m etc contours and also nature of bottom may be recorded.

14.5 Movement (Bridge Orders) Book

The log records events to do with orders to Engine Room, and other
manoeuvering details:
Testing controls, SBE, All engine movements, Pilots, lines ashore,
anchoring time, all fast forward and aft, details of river / canal piloting etc
On ships with automatic telegraph loggers, at testing of controls and
synchronized as well so that all print outs are perfectly timed. Then at the end of
stations, the printout can be attached to the relevant page of the Movement
Book.

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14.6 Decca Log Book
This book is kept to record all operations of the Decca Navigator receiver.
Details of switching on, DR position, chain used, referencing, and initial inputs
are entered. Every Decca fix that is plotted must be entered in this book – Both
decometer readings as well as LI readings. Due to lane slip if the difference
between decometer readings and LI readings exceeds 0.5 lane over several
sequences, this should be recorded and the decometer reset.

14.7 Radar Log Book

This record is to be filled out every time the radar equipment is used. One
log book is maintained for every radar set on the ship. The radar log consists of
four sections as follows:
I. General Information – Name of radar, make, serial number, frequency,
length of performance monitor plume, etc.
II. Watchkeepers entries and remarks section. Time on / time off whether
used for collision avoidance or navigation, weather conditions, visibility.
Problems experienced. This section is to be filled in by the watchkeeper at
the end of his watch and signed. This is to be filled in accurately as it is
useful of the maintenance team to decide what maintenance should be
carried out and whether replacements are necessary etc.
III. Pick up ranges – This is complied by the navigation team. The particular
set. This is helpful for future use and help to the particular place to help
determine when in fall will be made.
IV. Maintenance section – Filled out by the maintenance technicians and
consist of details of maintenance carried out on the set and any parts
replaced etc.

14.8 Night Order Book

Even though this is not a log book like the others described above it is
worth mentioning here. This book contains instructions from the Master to the
watchkeepers during the night watches 2000 – 2400, 0000 – 0400, 0400 – 0800
hours regarding safety of navigation, call master, notices to be given to Engine
Room etc. This will be signed by both Master and watchkeeper every time the
Master makes an entry.

14.9 Bridge Note Book

This book is maintained in conjunction with the passage planning details
which have been made out by the Navigating Officer. It contains all relevant
details for the safe conduct of the sea passage being undertaken. Details
contained therein may include:
- Publication to be consulted;
- Navigational warnings;
- Relevant local laws and requirements;
- Noticeable to be served, for example Pilots, Coast Guard etc;
- Land marks for position fixing, chains to be used etc;
- Parallel Index Distances, Safety Margins, Turn details etc;
This book is to be consulted at all points of the voyage to ensure that the
passage plan is followed as closely as possible.
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