Demonstration of the Change Over Procedure

The proper way of taking over and handing over a watch for officer in charge?
Handing over of the watch should be carried out according to the instructions
provided by the chief captain standing orders and company's instructional manual.
It should be done very sincerely and honestly so that the watch keeping becomes
smoother and continuation of any kind of work is not affected on the ship.
In case of emergency, or any circumstances needed an immediate action, it is
extremely important to familiarize and drilled the different procedures to properly
manipulate and address the things which will be encountered later in time when on
board. In here, How steering is changed/switch from auto to manual is one of the
dealings which can be done any time by putting the switch form ‘Auto’ to
‘Manual’.

Officers on watch
Officer of the Watch (OOW) is an initiative focusing on enhancing knowledge and
dissemination of information related directly or indirectly to merchant vessels and
offshore operations. The aim of the Officer of the Watch is to highlight selected
maritime and offshore topics and articles, offering an important training tool to
anyone who seeks knowledge or is involved in the maritime and offshore industry..
Officer on Watch (OOW) the one who’s in charge of the bridge team, which is
there to support in the navigation process. There are things required to be checked
and monitored after taken over the watch. The OOW should undertake daily tests
and checks on bridge equipment, including; manual steering should be tested at
least once a watch when the automatic pilot is in use; Gyro and magnetic compass
errors should be checked once a watch, where possible and after any major course
alteration; and Compass repeaters should be synchronized, including repeaters
mounted off the bridge. These are the concerns of the officer, and is responsible for
checking the compasses, check navigational equipment in use at regular interval of
time check soundings by the echo sounder, ensuring the lookout is alert, and many
more. Also, one of the things bear in mind is the OOW should take frequent and
accurate bearings of approaching ships as a means of early detection of risk of
collision.

Principles to be observed in keeping a safe and navigational watch

Whenever a ship is put at sea, the master and navigating officers have duties both
in public and commercial law to navigate competently at all times.
- The officer in charge of the navigational watch is the master´s representative and
is primarily respons-ible at all times for the safe navigation of the ship and for
complying with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,
1972.
Principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch
In determining that the composition of the navigational watch is adequate to
ensure that a proper look-out can continuosly be maintained, the master shall take
into account all relevant factors, including those described in this section of the
Code, as well as the following factors:
Parties shall direct the attention of ship owners, shipoperators, masters and
watchkeeping personnel to thefollowing principles which shall be observed to
ensurethat a safe navigational watch is maintained at all times.
The master of every ship is bound to ensure thatwatchkeeping arrangements
are adequate formaintaining a safe navigational watch. Under themaster’s general
direction, the officers of the watch areresponsible for navigating the ship safely
during theirperiods of duty when they will be particularly concernedwith avoiding
collision and stranding.