NSCC SEAMAN MODULE ONE

WATCHES

By ENS MATTHEW LANDRY, NSCC

USS JOSEPH P KENNEDY, JR (DD 850) DIVISION

FOR USE WITH NAVEDTRA 14067

 Enabling Objectives

• Identify types of watches aboard ship

• Identify readiness conditions aboard ship
• Explain duties and watches of a messenger
• Describe the duties of underway bridge team
members

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 1. Watches

• When assigned to a watch, you are responsible for

proper performance of all duties
– Remain alert
– Be prepared for emergency
– Require all subordinates to be attentive
• Inform the Officer of the Deck (OOD), Boatswain’s
Mate of the Watch (BMOW) or the petty officer of
the watch (POOW) of matters about the watch

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Watches, ctd.

• You may decline to relieve the watch

– Only if you feel it is justified
– Report this to the OOD
• Do not leave your post until relieved or secured by
proper authority

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Types of Watches

• Designed to keep the ship operational 24 hours a day

• Most watches are 4 hours long

0000 – 0400: MIDWATCH

0400 – 0800: MORNING WATCH
0800 – 1200: FORENOON WATCH
1200 – 1600: AFTERNOON WATCH
1600 – 1800: FIRST DOG WATCH
1800 – 2000: SECOND DOG WATCH
2000 – 2400: EVENING WATCH

• Dog watches permit rotation of watches, and relief of

personnel to eat the evening meal

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Duties of a Watchstander

• Report to watch 30 minutes before it begins

– You can receive information and/or instructions from the
person on watch
– For night lookouts, this allows the oncoming person to
adjust to night vision
• “I AM READY TO RELIEVE YOU.”
– The person then passes on any information or instructions
– Reports to the OOD, asking permission to be relieved

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 2. Conditions of Readiness

• Six conditions of readiness govern the type of watch aboard ship

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 3. Duties of a Messenger

• Most messenger duties are as messenger to the

OOD
• You must exactly know:
– Where to go
– What to say
• Repeat the message exactly
• Carry messages quickly and directly
• Messages for the captain or admiral should be
delivered to his/her orderly, if assigned
• Report delays and reasons for delay, to the OOD

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 General Rules for a Messenger

1. Be in the prescribed uniform of the day at all

times.
2. Be attentive to all calls
3. Deliver messages directly and quickly. Return at
once to the sender and report the delivery of the
message
4. If unable to deliver a message, report this fact at
once to the sender
5. If you are sent to an officer's or chief petty
officer's room, knock. Do not enter until you are
told to do so

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 General Rules for a Messenger

6. Before going to meals or to the head, obtain

permission from the petty officer of the watch
7. Unseamanlike conduct, skylarking, or other such
behavior is never permitted
8. Remain covered in officer country. Salute the
officer to whom a message is addressed
9. Uncover before entering the wardroom or chiefs
mess unless you are on watch and wearing the
duty belt
10.Uncover if you enter any area where a meal is in
process, even if you are wearing the duty belt

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 In-Port Watches

• Messenger of the Watch

– Underway: Stationed on the bridge
– In port: Stationed on the quarterdeck

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Telephone Procedures

• Answer the phone quickly

• Speak immediately to the person calling
– Identify your command
– Identify yourself
– Identify your position
– Inform the person that the line is UNSECURED
• Eliminates uncertainty
• Do not keep other conversations during a phone
call
– Discourteous
– Information heard this way could be damaging to national
security

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Side Boys

• Stand watch from 0800 to sunset except mealtime

and general drills
• Wear a clean dress uniform of the day and keep
neat in appearance
• Keep close to the quarterdeck at all times (to hear
side boy’s call
• Follow proper procedure

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Security Watches

• May be assigned at the discretion of the CO

• Keep OOD informed by hourly reports
– Maintain continuous patrols above and below decks
– Check classified stowage
– Be alert for evidence of sabotage, theft and hazard
– Check security of weapons magazines
– Inspect damage control closures
– Check disbursing office and spaces containing public funds
– Check ship’s store and storerooms

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 4. Shipboard Underway Watches

• Personnel assigned to watch-standing duties are

entrusted with the safety and proper operation of
the ship
– Watchstanders who fail to understand responsibility have
caused collision, grounding and loss of ship
– Watchstanders who DO understand responsibility have
saved serious damage and loss of life

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 OFFICER OF THE DECK (OOD)

• Designated by the CO to be in charge of the ship

• Reports directly to the CO for safe navigation and
general operation
• Reports to XO for ship’s routine
• Reports to the Navigator on sighting landmarks and
course/speed changes

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 JUNIOR OFFICER OF THE DECK
(JOOD) AND CONNING OFFICER

• Principal assistant to the OOD

• Stands watch in the pilothouse
• May be stationed in the open bridge during complex
maneuvers

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch
(BMOW)

• Assist the OOD in carrying out the ship’s routine

• Supervises the watch team
– Ensures all deck watch stations are manned
– All previous watches are relieved
– Oncoming watch is in proper uniform
• Stands watch on the bridge

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW)

• Reports to the OOD

– Changes in weather
– Temperature and barometer readings
• Must be qualified helmsman
• Assists OOD in navigation
• Enters data in ship’s log
• Executes sunrise/sunset procedures

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Helmsman

• Must complete personnel qualification standards

(PQS) for helmsman and be qualified by the
Navigator
• Repeat orders word-for-word
• Report when you have carried out an order

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Lee Helmsman

• Qualified stand-by who regularly relieves the

helmsman
• Stands watch at the Engine Order Telegraph (EOT)
– Rings up Conning Officer’s orders to the engine room

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Other Underway Watches

• Fog Watch
– Stationed in fog or reduced visibility
– Stood in locations where approaching ships can be best
seen or heard (forecastle all the way forward)
• Lifeboat Watch
• Lookout/Sound-powered phone talker watch
– Relieved hourly
– Trained by the CIC officer, supervised by the OOD

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

 Questions?

COMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/ U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps