Responsibilities/Duties of an
officer in charge of the navigational watch
1. Keep the watch on the bridge;
2. In no circumstances leave the bridge until properly relieved;
3. Continue to be responsible for the safe navigation of the ship,
despite the presence of the Master on the bridge, until
informed specifically that the master has assumed that
responsibility and this is mutually understood.
4. During the watch the course steered, position and speed shall
be checked at sufficiently frequent intervals, using any
available navigational aids necessary, to ensure that the ship
follows the planned course.
5. Shall have full knowledge of the location and operation of all
safety and navigational equipment on board the ship and shall
be aware and take account of the operating limitations of
such equipment.
6. Shall not be assigned or undertake any duties which would
interfere with the safe navigation of the ship.
7. When using radar it shall be borne in mind the necessity to
comply at all times with the provisions on the use of radar
contained in the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea 1972, as amended, in force.
8. In cases of need, the officer in charge of the navigational
watch shall not hesitate to use the helm, engines and sound
signalling apparatus. However, timely notice of intended
variations of engine speed shall be given where possible or
effective use made of UMS engine controls provided on the
bridge in accordance with the applicable procedures.
9. Shall know the handling characteristics of their ship, including
its stopping distances, and should appreciate that other ships
may have different handling characteristics.
10. A proper record in the Ship’s Log Book shall be kept during the
watch of the movements and activities relating to the navigation
of the ship.
11. It is of special importance that at all times that a proper
lookout is maintained.
12. In a ship with a separate chartroom, the officer in charge of
the navigational watch may visit the chartroom, when
essential, for a short period for the necessary performance of
navigational duties, but shall first ensure that it is safe to do so
and that proper lookout is maintained.
13. Operational tests of shipboard navigational equipment shall
be carried out at sea as frequently as practicable and as
circumstances permit, in particular before hazardous
conditions affecting navigation are expected. Whenever
appropriate, these tests shall be recorded. Such tests shall also
be carried out prior to port arrival and departure.
14. The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall make
regular checks to ensure that:
- The person steering the ship or the automatic pilot is steering
the correct course;
- The standard compass error is determined at least once a
watch and, when possible, after any major alteration of course;
- The standard and gyro-compasses are frequently compared
and repeaters are synchronized with their master compass; .
- The automatic pilot is tested manually at least once a watch;
- The navigation and signal lights and other navigational
equipment are functioning properly;
- The radio equipment is functioning properly
- The UMS controls, alarms and indicators are functioning
properly.
The officer in charge of the navigational watch shall
bear in mind the necessity to comply at all times with the
requirements in force of the International Convention for
the Safety of Life at Sea, (SOLAS) 1974.
The officer of the navigational watch shall also take into account:
1. The need to station a person to steer the ship and to put the
steering into manual control in good time to allow any
potentially hazardous situation to be dealt with in a safe
manner;
2. That with a ship under automatic steering, it is highly dangerous
to allow a situation to develop to the point where the officer in
charge of the navigational watch is without assistance and has
to break the continuity of the lookout in order to take
emergency action.
