BASIC THIRD MATE GUIDE

1.) THINGS TO DO DURING SIGNING ON BOARD:

A. PROPER HAND OVER WITH THE OFFICER BEING RELIEVED IF POSSIBLE.

TAKE DOWN NOTES OF THE FOLLOWING DURING HAND OVER:

* Important details on operating procedures of Life saving and Fire

fighting Equipts.

* Defects of equipments observed during hand over to rectify

immediately once vessel sailed. Defects may be hidden so be observant and
don’t be afraid to ask.

* Location of Safety Stores Spares. Ask if the inventory of spares are

updated

* Items that are about to expire. Equipment (Ex. Pyrotechnics) or Service

of equipment (Ex. Life raft servicing)

* IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, ask for basic operation of BRIDGE

NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENTS (PROCEDURES FOR TESTING ENGINE and
STEERING GEAR). Departure might be scheduled during your watch and you
will be the one assigned to prepare the bridge.

*IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, familiarization with operation controls of all

CARGO / BALLASTS Pumps and Valves in CCR. Familiarize yourself with the
line up connections and piping of the vessel.

* Current operation on board (LOADING / DISCHARGING)

* Next Port / ETA

* Current CARGO on board and QTY to be Loaded/ Discharged

B. COLLECT DOCS OF NEW JOINERS and UPDATE ALL NECESSARY

INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; MOST ESPECIALLY DEPARTURE
CREWLIST and CREW EFFECTS DECLARATION (may be needed during
departure)
2.) THINGS TO DO DAILY:
BRIDGE :

* Check for new emails from Captain (Pre arrival Docs needed, Some
Circulars from the office, etc) – MS OFFICE OUTLOOK

* Synchronization of ship’s Chronometer via GPS or MF/HF Rx

10000kHz , 15000kHz, 20000kHz (IF You’re the one assigned to do so)

* Planning of things to do during overtime, writing it in a list will help

you organize which things to do first. Checking YELLOW BOOK – TSM Form
088 for things not yet done.

* Taking compass errors if Possible

* Read diligently Navigational and Meteorological Warnings being

received by NAVTEX or Inmarsat. For further info read GMDSS BOOK NP 285

* Read SOLAS training manual to familiarize yourself on the LSA and

FFE equipment on board and their operations.

* Read books if you have nothing to do while on duty

* OBSERVE PROPER WATCHKEEPING WHILE ON DUTY. DO NOT BE

TOO COMPLACENT. Have a glimpse of your surroundings from time to time.

* Filling out properly Forms to be filled during watch:

- LOG BOOK (Copy or Log similarly to what was previously written

by the previous third officer)

- OMD 007 HAND OVER OF THE WATCH

- COMPASS ERROR LOG

- RADAR LOG

* Familiarize yourself with other BRIDGE CHECKLISTS and the

PURPOSE when to use each one of them.
OTHERS:

* Update WORK and REST HOURS

* OVERTIME / RETAIN according to the list you had made during

watch.

* 1 CBT MODULE if Possible. Take note of the answers from the

assessment so that you can take the same CBT for other crew also.

3.) THINGS TO DO WEEKLY:

* Be sure to complete weekly check of LSA and FFE as per TSM Form 088. Log
the following in the log book if weekly task is completed: Mostly Logged
during Saturdays.

“ Weekly inspection of LSA and FFE as per TSM form 088 Completed” then
affix your signature at the end.

“Random Testing of fire Detection and Alarm System Carried” then affix your
signature at the end. (THIS ONE IF ONLY APPLICCABLE AND BEING DONE BY
ELECTRICIAN)

* Record of Drills or Trainings carried during the week. Do not forget to right
entry of trainings and drills at the front part of the DECK LOG BOOK.

AND ALSO ON THE PAGE OF THE CURRENT DATE RIGHT THE FOLLOWING AS
APPLICABLE:

“ Drills Carried as Per TSM Form 091A : (LIST OF DRILLS CARRIED FOR THE
DAY) “

“ Trainings Carried as Per TSM Form 162: (LIST OF TRAININGS CARRIED FOR
THE DAY) “

*Double check every body’s work and rest hours record according to the
DRILLS, TRAININGS and MEETINGS done for the week.
* Updating of Radio signal publications (If you are the one assigned to do so)

* Be sure that received circulars are file accordingly (ASK FOR FILE FOLDER of
CIRCULARS on board) and being displayed in mess rooms / day rooms as
applicable for everybody’s reference.

* Be sure to update CBT, usually received by EMAIL from Capt. And during
MONDAYS. Procedure for updating is also provided with the EMAIL.

4.) THINGS TO DO MONTHLY:

* Be sure to complete MONTHLY Checks of LSA and FFE as per TSM form 088.
Once completed, write this entry in to the log book during the date of
completion:

“ Monthly test and inspections of LSA and FFE Completed as per TSM form
088” Then affix signature at the end.

* Be sure that DRILLS and TRAINING records are completed at the end of the
month as per your schedule of drills and training. Then prepare for the next
month schedule of drills and trainings as per TSM form 091 – Schedule of
Drills and MPM matrix 004 – Shipboard Training Matrix and Schedules.

* Be sure to have a minimum record of 6 NEARMISS Reports and STOPER card

for the month. Usually crew doesn’t submit these reports so you do not have
a choice but to do it on your own. TIP: Keep a separate paper to create record
of draft for Nearmiss reports and STOPER card that come into your mind.
Note them and keep this paper. Record them accordingly to OCEAN
MANAGER BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. Separate instruction for
Reporting NEARMISS and STOPER CARD provided. CLOSURE of reports from
the ocean manager is to be printed and filed.
* Be sure to Make MONTHLY SAFETY REPORT for the month. File altogether
with the closure from office in respective folder

TSM FORMS REQUIRED:

- TSM form 094 – Monthly Safety Report (This has the same format of what is
to be filled up in OCEAN MANAGER) Sample will be provided.

- TSM form 094A – Addendum to Monthly Safety Report ( To be completed

by hand writing. PART A for THIRD OFFICER, PART B for CHIEF OFFICER, PART
C for SECOND MATE, PART D & E For CHIEF ENGR. Print empty form and give
each part accordingly to the following persons. Once completed, collect all
PARTS and double check for some entries that might be incomplete. SCAN
ALL TOGETHER FORM 094A and save in PDF format. The PDF Format will be
attached to the OCEAM MANAGER Monthly SAFETY Report. Sample
completed form will be provided.

- TSM form 700 – Minutes of the meeting ( This contains information or

topics such as SAFETY CONCERNS, NEARMISS / STOPER Cards, CIRCULARS
etc. being discussed during monthly safety meeting. Have master sign this
form then SCAN to PDF format once completed. The PDF format will be
attached also in OCEAN Manager monthly safety Reports.

* Be Sure to EXPORT CBT monthly results and send to captain. Usually

procedures for exporting are provided already on board.
5.) THINGS TO DO BEFORE ARRIVAL IN PORT:
* Be sure that all LSA and FFE are in place and in good working condition

* Deck log book is updated for records of weekly and monthly maintenance
and records of drills and trainings being carried

* Be sure that Drill records and Trainings records are kept up to date

* Assigned RADIOSIGNAL PUBLICATION is up to date (If being assigned to do

so)

* Fire plans are updated of the following: CREWLISTS, MSDS and STOWAGE
PLAN

* TSM form no 175 – PORT contacts information Sheet is updated. Usually

displayed in BRIDGE, CCR, SHIP’s OFFICE, ALLEYWAY of A-DECK. For updating,
you can ask captain / 2nd officer for assistance. you can find port informations
from DNV Navigator, ALRS VOL 6 DIGITAL, GUIDE TO PORT ENTRY BOOK.
Agent Details are found in the Emails sent by captain. Sample is provided.

* Arrival Documents required are already completed and signed/stamped as

applicable.

* COMMON PORT DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO PREPARE ON EACH PORTS

ARE:

- CREWLISTS, CREW EFFECT DECLERATIONS, STORES DECLERATION, LAST TEN

PORTS OF CALL, MARITIME HEALTH DECLERATION, NIL LIST, VACCINATION
LIST. Samples will be provided.
6.) THINGS TO DO DURING CREW CHANGE:
* Collect on signers documents and update CREW DATA accordingly with the
needed information.

* Record ONSIGNERS PERSONAL EFFECT DECLARATIONS.

* Familiarization to be carried for the on signers and TSM Form 099 - Safety
and Security Tour / Familiarization to be completed. ONE COPY to be filed,
PHOTO COPY to be given to on Signers.

* UPDATE As soon as possible CREWLISTS DISPLAYED in all parts of the

accommodation and also in fire plans.

7.) SUMMARY OF RELEVANT FORMS and MANUALS

ASSIGNED FOR THIRDMATE:
*TSM FORM 088 – YELLOW BOOK (PDF FORMAT) to be printed yearly
*TSM FORM 091 – Schedule of Drills
*TSM FORM 091A – Drill Record
*MPM Matrix 004 – Shipboard Training Matrix and Schedule
*TSM FORM 162 – Training Record
* TSM Form 161 - EMS Training Booklet (to be displayed together with SOLAS
training and Fire Safety Training Manual)
*SOLAS TRAINING MANUAL
*FIRE SAFETY TRAINING MANUAL
*TSM Form 099 - Safety Security Tour & Familiarization
*TSM Form 093 - Near Miss Report
*TSM Form 093S- STOPER CARD
*TSM Form 094 - Monthy Safety Report
*TSM Form 094A - Addendum to Monthly Safety Report
*TSM Form 700 - Minutes of Meeting
*TSM Form 175 - Port Contacts Sheet