Safe

Watch keeping
 Engine Room Watch Keeping

1. Watch keeping is an integral part of marine engineer’s duties on board a ship

“A smooth running ship is a product of efficient handling at the bridge and effective
management in the engine room under seagoing conditions”
It is therefore important that the watch keeping is done in the most systematic manner to prevent
any kind of breakdown
2. Engine Room watch keeping comprises
 Constant monitoring and initiating corrective action on the operational status of all running
equipment and recording its parameters in the Engine Room Log (Main engine, Generators,
Compressors, Fire pump, Bilge pump, Steering gear etc.)
 Locate abnormality (if any) right at the instance of its occurrence and take preventive action
before it results in a breakdown
 If circumstances demand, report abnormalities to appropriate authorities. Efficient
communication is an important factor for safe and efficient operation onboard
 Ensuring that the established watch-keeping arrangements are maintained and that, engine-
room ratings, forming part of the watch, are performing their stated duty.
 Principles of Safe Watch keeping

1. All members of the engineering watch shall be familiar with their assigned watch-
keeping duties.

2. There is no yard stick to measure watch keeping efficiency, however its effectiveness
towards ensuring a satisfactory level can be attained if, every watchkeeper, irrespective
of the ship they are serving in, have knowledge of:

a) the rules, regulations and procedures for dealing emergency situations

b) the use of appropriate internal communication systems;

c) the escape routes from machinery spaces

d) the engine-room alarm systems and be able to distinguish between the various
alarms, with special reference to the fire alarm; and

e) the number, location and types of fire-fighting equipment and damage-control

gear in the machinery spaces, together with their use and the various safety
precautions to be observed.
 Principles of Safe Watch keeping (cont..)

3. Any machinery not functioning properly, or requiring special service shall be noted along
with any action already taken. Plans shall be made for any further action if required

4. All bridge orders shall be promptly executed. Changes in direction or speed of the main
propulsion units shall be recorded.

5. The watchkeeper should initiate action necessary to contain the effects of damage
resulting from machinery breakdown, fire, flooding, rupture etc.

6. Before going off duty, ensure that all events related to the main and auxiliary machinery
which have occurred during the engineering watch are suitably recorded.

7. The bridge shall be immediately notified in the event of fire and of any impending action
in machinery spaces that may cause reduction in the ship’s speed, imminent steering
failure, stoppage of the ship’s propulsion system or any alteration in the generation of
electric power or similar threat to safety.
 Principles of Safe Watch keeping (cont..)

8. The officer in charge of the engineering watch shall notify the chief engineer officer
without delay:
a) when engine damage or a malfunction occurs which may be such as to endanger
the safe operation of the ship;
b) when any malfunction occurs which, it is believed, may cause damage or
breakdown of propulsion machinery, auxiliary machinery or monitoring and governing
systems; and
c) in any emergency or if in any doubt as to what decision or measures to take.

9. The officer in charge of the engineering watch shall give the watch-keeping personnel all
appropriate instructions and information which will ensure the keeping of a safe
engineering watch.
 Watch keeping (Electrical)

1. When a ship is underway the issues that need consideration are availability of electrical
power to systems, their electrical controls, operational status, indication and alarms. The
equipment that needs monitoring during watch keeping include:

 Power generation and distribution (Generators, Switchboards,

Distribution boards, Fuse panels etc.)
 Propulsion & Steering (Main Engine auxiliaries, Steering system controls)
 Auxiliary system & machineries starters, motors and control panels
(Compressors, Pumps, Blowers, Thrusters etc.)
 Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
 Galley equipment
 Navigational Equipment ( Nav. Lights, Radar, Gyro, Log, Echo Sounder, Siren)
 Deck machinery items (Windlass, Capstan, Cranes, Davits, Doors &
Hatches)
 Emergency generator and Battery charging
 Lighting and Ventilation
 Points to Check on Electrical Equipment / System

1. Equipment hygiene (cleanliness) and upkeep of surrounding areas (spillage of oil, water, leakage,
inflammable material etc.)

2. Check the under mentioned parameters of all running machinery, utilising all sensory organs (Touch,
Hearing, Smell, Taste, Visual and intuition)
 Smooth running
 Satisfactory body temperature
 No abnormal sound or vibration
 Local Control Panel meters, gauges and indication lamps satisfactory
 No leakage or spray from adjacent equipment / systems
 Guard covers over rotating parts in place

3. Check adequacy of compartment lighting, ventilation and proper stowage of loose items

Cont…..
 Points to Check on Electrical Equipment / System
(Cont…..)

3. Note all running motors parameters (voltage, vibration, noise, temperature etc.) as
available on local control panel.

4. Any machinery not functioning properly, expected to malfunction or requiring special

service, should be noted and plan future course of action if required.

5. Adequate rounds of switchboard to monitor individual load on running generators, proper

load sharing (if running in parallel), earth fault and subsequent entry in engine-room
logbook

6. Rounds of machinery and steering gear spaces to check its satisfactory operation and
reporting equipment malfunctions or break-down (if any).

7. Keep a check on the state of readiness of alternate / reserve power (compressed air,
starting battery, emergency generator etc.)