BRIDGE

PROCEDURE
GUIDE
CHAPTER 3: DUTIES OF THE
O F F I C E R O F T H E WAT C H
The Officer of the watch is a principal key into the safety navigation, because during his watch could occur any accidents like collision with others vessel that is on the same
course. That’s why The OOW has to be trained and acquired the knowledge by reading the COLREGS (Convention on the International Regulations for the Prevention of
Collisions at Sea). The OOW also should comply with the requirements of the SMS and the Master's standing and daily orders. The primaries duties of the OOW are to maintain
a safe navigational watch at sea and execute and monitor the passage plan, which will require ensuring the highlights components like:

 Familiarity with the bridge layout and equipment.

 Familiarity with bridge procedures
 Execution of the passage plan
 Management of emergency situations

In case to get an effective handover the watch, the OOW has to check that the relieving officer is fit for the duty. That means the new OOW is not influence of drink or drugs,
because He will transfer the responsibility of the ship to the reliving officer. Including, the relieving officer have to verify the ship's position and status before taking over the
watch. At the same time, The OOW is in charge of the Bridge Team, before the relieving officer takes over, in compliance with the SMS. The responsibility extends to ensuring
that bridge watch manning levels are at all times maintained at a safe level for the prevailing circumstances and conditions. All members of the Bridge Team including look-outs
and any helmsmen should be fit for duty. In addition, maintaining an effective look-out is essential to the safe navigation of the ship. While steering, a helmsman should not be
considered to be the look-out, except in small ships with an unobstructed all-round view from the steering position. The OOW, supported by other members of the Bridge Team,
should:

• Identify navigational hazards such as wrecks, floating objects, ice and uncharted hazards;

• Detect and respond as appropriate to any significant change in the weather, visibility or sea state; Identify aids to navigation, including buoys and lights;

• Identify threats to security, especially in areas with a known risk of piracy or armed robbery.

• Adequate, in case of darkness, night vision in order to maintain a proper look-out, and the environment should support this

• Use carefully deck lighting during the hours of darkness to avoid negatively affecting night vision, even if such lighting only affects a restricted sector of the horizon.
The Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System should be in operation whenever the ship is at sea. The OOW should ensure that the BNWAS is operational and
set correctly in accordance with the SMS. If there is any doubt relating to the safety of the ship, the OOW should immediately call the Master. The presence of
the Master on the bridge does not relieve the OOW of responsibility for the watch, unless the Master has explicitly taken control. The OOW should remain on
the bridge, continue to manage the Bridge Team and support the Master, unless instructed otherwise. The OOW must be familiarize with the entire bridge,
that means, equipment and operations to get a safety navigation. Also, the OOW should recognize and respond correctly to alarms and warnings and
understand the status of the ship's engines.

Awareness relates to what is happening around the ship, includes the position of the ship, and what is the course, and any risk in the vicinity that attends to
the safety of the ship. Good situational awareness is essential for the safe conduct of navigation and protection of the environment. In other words, protect
marine wildlife and environmentally sensitive sea areas. It will achieve by:

 A clear understanding of the passage plan.

 Familiarity with and understanding of bridge equipment and the information available from radar, AIS, ARPA and ECDIS.

In case of monitoring shipboard operations, the OOW must maintain high level of awareness and ship operations, for example, monitoring machinery status,
supervision and control of the ship's safety and environmental systems. In case of navigation and control, the OOW must follow the passage plan and
monitoring the progress. Also, the OOW should be familiarized with the handling characteristics of the ship, and noticed if these characteristics are affected
by the current. At the same time, take notes about factors could affect maneuverability. For using the propulsion, the OOW must know the characteristics of
bridge control systems, type of propellers and/or thrusters. For safe speed, The OOW may guarantee that the vessel proceeds at a safe speed at all times. For
steering control, the OOW must familiarize with the operation of all manual, automatic and back-up steering control system on the bridge, and what to do in
case of control at the emergency steering position. Also, the helmsman should be available to support the OOW by taking over the steering control, for
example, in Areas of high traffic density.
In case of monitoring the passage, it should be continuously checked by the OOW using electronic or paper chart. For navigation in coastal or restricted waters, all
the team members of the bridge must know how dangerous is the navigation in coastal or restricted waters, so they will maintain good situational awareness, and
any deviation from the passage plan will introduce new risks. For that reason, must follow the procedures of master’s orders and make ensure that, the position of
the ship is fixed at frequent intervals by the most appropriate means. Also, can use a monitoring technique, like in heading transits, which can provide a leading line
along which a ship can safely steer. Complying with the COLREGS, for a safety navigation the ship must comply with the COLREGS, for that reason, it must be used
the correct sound and light signals for avoiding collision or any disaster by the OOW. He will take a particular care when very large ships are at close range, because
it will exist a risk of collision and also with a poor visibility. For action to avoid collision, an early action must be taken for the security and safety of the vessel and
the crew, also It has to be monitoring the effectiveness of an action to avoid any disaster until the other vessel is finally past and clear.
MAINTAINING AN ANCHOR WATCH: The OOW must follow an anchoring plan that is complemented by the passage plan. Where
its main functions are:
Fix the position of the anchor and the position of the anchored ship.
You must also notify the port authorities that the ship is at anchor.
You should then plot waypoints to monitor the ship's position.
In addition, you should always maintain adequate surveillance.
Regularly plot the position of the ship.
Ensure that the main engines and other auxiliary machinery are running.
Monitor and follow traffic and other anchored vessels.
GMDSS WATCHKEEPING: It is necessary for the OOW to monitor the ship's radio for any distress or emergency messages on
different channels. You should avoid sending false Distress alerts when it is testing equipment. If this is the case, they must be
canceled.
ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE:The OOW must prevent contamination, and also, The OOW must be
familiarized with MARPOL, SOPEP or SMPEP. In the event of an incident, you must inform the relevant authorities.
PERIODIC CHECKS OF NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT:The OOW shall perform operational checks of the navigation
equipment when the vessel is going to leave to the port and before entering the port. The tests and controls must be daily.
RECORDING BRIDGE ACTIVITIES: The OOW must record all the activities that takes place on the
bridge. Which will be written in the logbook or electronic registers. The information should contain
speed, heading and position, the date and time.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS: The OOW must be familiarized with emergency checklists. Which is
obliged to provide assistance and not hesitate to take action.

DANGER REPORTING:The OOW must send a danger message when the weather conditions are
getting worst and attend the safety of the ship, such as dangerous ice, a tropical cyclone, low air
temperatures associated with hurricanes. Also, the date and time must be included.

SECURITY AWARENESS:The OOW should be familiarized with general guidance on measures to

reduce safety risks on ships and Responsibilities and procedures included in the Ship Security Plan
(SSP).