Subdivision Performing the radio watch - Marine Orders - Part 28: Operations standards & procedures, Issue 2 (Order No. 9 of 1997) - Performing the radio watch | Zoe
Marine Orders - Part 28: Operations standards & procedures, Issue 2 (Order No. 9 of 1997)
Performing the radio watchPerforming the radio watch
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3.8.3.1 The radio operator performing radio watchkeeping duties must:
(a) ensure that watch is maintained on the frequencies specified in the Radio Regulations and the SOLAS Convention; and
(b) while on duty regularly check the operation of the radio equipment and its sources of energy and report to the master any observed failure of this equipment.
3.8.3.2 The requirements of the Radio Regulations and the SOLAS Convention on keeping a radiotelegraph or radio log, as appropriate, must be complied with.
3.8.3.3 The maintenance of radio records, in compliance with the requirements of the Radio Regulations and the SOLAS Convention is the responsibility of the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents. The following must be recorded, together with the times at which they occur:
(a) a summary of distress, urgency and safety radiocommunications;
(b) important incidents relating to the radio service;
(c) where appropriate, the position of the ship at least once per day; and
(d) a summary of the condition of the radio equipment including its sources of energy.
3.8.3.4 The radio records must be kept at the distress communications operating position, and must be made available:
(a) for inspection by the master; and
(b) for inspection by any authorized AMSA officer and by any duly authorized officer exercising control under article X of the STCW Convention.
4 WATCHKEEPING IN PORT
4.1 General principles
On any ship safely moored or safely at anchor under normal circumstances in port, the master must arrange for an appropriate and effective watch to be maintained for the purpose of safety. Special requirements may be necessary for special types of ships' propulsion systems or ancillary equipment and for ships carrying hazardous, dangerous, toxic or highly flammable materials or other special types of cargo.
4.2 Watch arrangements
4.2.1 Arrangements for keeping a deck watch when the ship is in port must at all times be adequate to:
(a) ensure the safety of life, of the ship, the port and the environment, and the safe operation of all machinery related to cargo operation;
(b) observe international, national and local rules; and
(c) maintain order and the normal routine of the ship.
4.2.2 The master must decide the composition and duration of the deck watch depending on the conditions of mooring, type of the ship and character of duties.
4.2.3 If the master considers it necessary, a qualified officer must be in charge of the deck watch.
4.2.4 The necessary equipment must be so arranged as to provide for efficient watchkeeping.
4.3 Taking over the watch
4.3.1 Officers in charge of the deck watch must not hand over the watch to their relieving officer if they have any reason to believe that the latter is obviously not
capable of carrying out watchkeeping duties effectively, in which case the master must be notified accordingly. Relieving officers of the deck watch must ensure that all members of their watch are apparently fully capable of performing their duties effectively.
4.3.2 If, at the moment of handing over the deck watch, an important operation is being performed it must be concluded by the officer being relieved, except when ordered otherwise by the master.
4.3.3 Prior to taking over the deck watch, the relieving officer must be informed of the following by the officer in charge of the deck watch as to:
(a) the depth of the water at the berth, the ship's draught, the level and time of high and low waters; the securing of the moorings, the arrangement of anchors and the scope of the anchor chain, and other mooring features important to the safety of the ship; the state of main engines and their availability for emergency use;
(b) all work to be performed on board the ship; the nature, amount and disposition of cargo loaded or remaining, and any residue on board after unloading the ship;
(c) the level of water in bilges and ballast tanks;
(d) the signals or lights being exhibited or sounded;
(e) the number of crew members required to be on board and the presence of any other persons on board;
(f) the state of fire‑fighting appliances;
(g) any special port regulations;
(h) the master's standing and special orders;
(i) the lines of communication available between the ship and shore personnel, including port authorities, in the event of an emergency arising or assistance being required;
(j) any other circumstances of importance to the safety of the ship, its crew, cargo or protection of the environment from pollution; and
(k) the procedures for notifying the appropriate authority of any environmental pollution resulting from ship activities.
4.3.4 Relieving officers, before assuming charge of the deck watch, must verify that:
(a) the securing of moorings and anchor chain are adequate;
(b) the appropriate signals or lights are properly exhibited or sounded;
(c) safety measures and fire protection regulations are being maintained;
(d) their awareness of the nature of any hazardous or dangerous cargo being loaded or discharged and the appropriate action to be taken in the event of any spillage or fire;
(e) no external conditions or circumstances imperil the ship and that it does not imperil others.
4.4 Performing the deck watch
The officer in charge of the deck watch must:
(a) make rounds to inspect the ship at appropriate intervals;
(b) pay particular attention to:
(i) the condition and securing of the gangway, anchor chain and moorings, especially at the turn of the tide and in berths with a large rise and fall, if necessary, taking measures to ensure that they are in normal working condition,
(ii) the draught, under‑keel clearance and the general state of the ship, to avoid dangerous listing or trim during cargo handling or ballasting,
(iii) the weather and sea state,
(iv) the observance of all regulations concerning safety and fire protection,
(v) the water level in bilges and tanks,
(vi) all persons on board and their location, especially those in remote or enclosed spaces, and
(vii) the exhibition and sounding, where appropriate, of lights and signals;
(c) in bad weather, or on receiving a storm warning, take the necessary measures to protect the ship, persons on board and cargo;
(d) take every precaution to prevent pollution of the environment by the ship;
(e) in an emergency threatening the safety of the ship, raise the alarm, inform the master, take all possible measures to prevent any damage to the ship, its cargo and persons on board, and, if necessary, request assistance from the shore authorities or neighbouring ships;
(f) be aware of the ship's stability condition so that, in the event of fire, the shore fire‑fighting authority may be advised of the approximate quantity of water that can be pumped on board without endangering the ship;
(g) offer assistance to ships or persons in distress;
(h) take necessary precautions to prevent accidents or damage when propellers are to be turned; and
(i) enter in the appropriate log‑book all important events affecting the ship.
4.5 Watch in port on ships carrying hazardous cargo
4.5.1 The master of every ship carrying cargo that is hazardous, whether explosive, flammable, toxic, health‑threatening or environment-polluting, must ensure that safe watchkeeping arrangements are maintained. On ships carrying hazardous cargo in bulk, this will be achieved by the ready availability on board of a duly qualified officer or officers, and ratings where appropriate, even when the ship is safely moored or safely at anchor in port.
4.5.2 On ships carrying hazardous cargo other than in bulk, the master must take full account of the nature, quantity, packing and stowage of the hazardous cargo and of any special conditions on board, afloat and ashore.
5 GUIDANCE ON KEEPING A NAVIGATIONAL WATCH
5.1 Introduction
5.1.1 Particular guidance may be necessary for special types of ships as well as for ships carrying hazardous, dangerous, toxic or highly flammable cargoes. The master should provide this operational guidance as appropriate.
5.1.2 It is essential that officers in charge of the navigational watch appreciate that the efficient performance of their duties is necessary in the interests of the safety of life and property at sea and of preventing pollution of the marine environment.
5.2 Bridge resource management
5.2.1 Companies should issue guidance on proper bridge procedures, and promote the use of checklists appropriate to each ship taking into account national and international guidance.
5.2.2 Companies should also issue guidance to masters and officers in charge of the navigational watch on each ship concerning the need for continuously reassessing how bridge‑watch resources are being allocated and used, based on bridge resource management principles such as the following:
(a) a sufficient number of qualified individuals should be on watch to ensure all duties can be performed effectively;
(b) all members of the navigational watch should be appropriately qualified and fit to perform their duties efficiently and effectively or the officer in charge of the navigational watch should take into account any limitation in qualifications or fitness of the individuals available when making navigational and operational decisions;
(c) duties should be clearly and unambiguously assigned to specific individuals, who should confirm that they understand their responsibilities;
(d) tasks should be performed according to a clear order of priority;
(e) no member of the navigational watch should be assigned more duties or more difficult tasks than can be performed effectively;
(f) individuals should be assigned at all times to locations at which they can most efficiently and effectively perform their duties, and individuals should be reassigned to other locations as circumstances may require;
(g) members of the navigational watch should not be assigned to different duties, tasks or locations until the officer in charge of the navigational watch is certain that the adjustment can be accomplished efficiently and effectively;
(h) instruments and equipment considered necessary for effective performance of duties should be readily available to appropriate members of the navigational watch;
(i) communications among members of the navigational watch should be clear, immediate, reliable, and relevant to the business at hand;
(j) non‑essential activity and distractions should be avoided, suppressed or removed;
(k) all bridge equipment should be operating properly and if not, the officer in charge of the navigational watch should take into account any malfunction which may exist in making operational decisions;
(l) all essential information should be collected, processed and interpreted, and made conveniently available to those who require it for the performance of their duties;
(m) non‑essential materials should not be placed on the bridge or any work surface; and
(n) members of the navigational watch should at all times be prepared to respond efficiently and effectively to changes in circumstances.
6 GUIDANCE ON KEEPING A RADIO WATCH
6.1 General
6.1.1 Among other things, the Radio Regulations require that each ship radio station is licensed, is under the ultimate authority of the master or other person responsible for the ship and is only operated under the control of adequately qualified personnel. The Radio Regulations also require that a distress alert shall only be sent on the authority of the master or other person responsible for the ship.
6.1.2 The master should bear in mind that all personnel assigned responsibility for sending a distress alert must be instructed with regard to, be knowledgeable of, and be able to operate properly, all radio equipment on the ship as required by regulation I/14, paragraph 1.4. This should be recorded in the deck or radio log-book.
6.2 Watchkeeping
6.2.1 In addition to the requirements concerning radio watchkeeping, the master of every seagoing ship should ensure that:
(a) the ship's radio station is adequately manned for the purpose of exchanging general communicationsin particular public correspondence, taking into account the constraints imposed by the duties of those authorized to operate it; and
(b) the radio equipment provided on board and, where fitted, the reserve sources of energy, are maintained in an efficient working condition.
6.2.2 Necessary instruction and information on use of radio equipment and procedures for distress and safety purposes should be given periodically to all relevant crew members by the person designated in the muster list to have primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents. This should be recorded in the radio log.
6.2.3 The master of every ship not subject to the SOLAS Convention should require that radio watchkeeping is adequately maintained as determined by Marine Orders, taking into account the Radio Regulations.
6.3 Operational
6.3.1 Prior to sailing, the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should ensure that:
(a) all distress and safety radio equipment and the reserve source of energy are in an efficient working condition, and that this is recorded in the radio log;
(b) all documents required by international agreement, notices to ship radio stations and additional documents required by Marine Orders are available and are corrected in accordance with the latest supplements, and that any discrepancy is reported to the master;
(c) the radio clock is correctly set against standard time signals;
(d) antennae are correctly positioned, undamaged and properly connected; and
(e) to the extent practicable, routine weather and navigational warning messages for the area in which the ship will be navigating are updated together with those for other areas requested by the master, and that such messages are passed to the master.
6.3.2 On sailing and opening the station, the radio operator on watch should:
(a) listen on the appropriate distress frequencies for any possible existing distress situation; and
(b) send a traffic report (name, position and destination, etc.) to the local coast station and any other appropriate coast station from which general communications may be expected.
6.3.3 While the station is open, the radio operator on watch should:
(a) check the radio clock against standard time signals at least once a day;
(b) send a traffic report when entering and on leaving the service area of a coast station from which general communications might be expected; and
(c) transmit reports to ship reporting systems in accordance with the instructions of the master.
6.3.4 While at sea, the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should ensure the proper functioning of:
(a) the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress and safety radio equipment by means of a test call at least once each week; and
(b) the distress and safety radio equipment by means of a test at least once each day but without radiating any signal.
The results of these tests should be recorded in the radio log.
6.3.5 The radio operator designated to handle general communications should ensure that an effective watch is maintained on those frequencies on which communications are likely to be exchanged, having regard to the position of the ship in relation to
those coast stations and to coast earth stations from which traffic may be expected. When exchanging traffic, radio operators should follow the relevant ITU recommendations.
6.3.6 When closing the station on arrival at a port, the radio operator on watch should advise the local coast station and other coast stations with which contact has been maintained of the ship's arrival and of the closing of the station.
6.3.7 When closing the radio station the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should:
(a) ensure that transmitting antennae are earthed; and
(b) check that the reserve sources of energy are sufficiently charged.
6.4 Distress alerts and procedures
6.4.1 The distress alert or distress call has absolute priority over all other transmissions. All stations which receive such signals are required by the Radio Regulations to immediately cease all transmissions capable of interfering with distress communications.
6.4.2 In the case of a distress affecting own ship, the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should immediately assume responsibility for following the procedures of the Radio Regulations and relevant ITU‑R Recommendations.
6.4.3 On receiving a distress alert:
(a) the radio operator on watch should alert the master and, if appropriate, the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents; and
(b) the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should evaluate the situation and immediately assume responsibility for following the procedures of the Radio Regulations and relevant ITU-R Recommendations.
6.5 Urgency messages
6.5.1 In cases of urgency affecting own ship, the radio operator designated as having responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should immediately assume responsibility for following the procedures of the Radio Regulations and relevant ITU-R Recommendations.
6.5.2 In cases of communications relating to medical advice, the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents should follow the procedures of the Radio Regulations and adhere to the conditions as published in the relevant international documentation (see 3.3.1(b) of this Appendix) or as specified by the satellite service provider.
6.5.3 In cases of communications relating to medical transports, as defined in the Annex 1 to the Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts (Protocol 1), the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunication during distress incidents should follow the procedures of the Radio Regulations.
6.5.4 On receiving an urgency message, the radio operator on watch should alert the master and, if appropriate, the radio operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents.
6.6 Safety messages
6.6.1 When a safety message is to be transmitted, the master and the radio operator on watch should follow the procedures of the Radio Regulations.
6.6.2 On receiving a safety message, the radio operator on watch should note its content and act in accordance with the master's instructions.
6.6.3 Bridge-to-bridge communications should be exchanged on VHF channel 13. Bridge-to-bridge communications are described as "Intership Navigation Safety Communications" in the Radio Regulations.
6.7 Radio records
6.7.1 Additional entries in the radio log should be made in accordance with 6.1.2, 6.2.2, 6.3.1, 6.3.4 and 6.8.
6.7.2 Unauthorized transmissions and incidents of harmful interference should, if possible, be identified, recorded in the radio log and brought to the attention of the appropriate Administration in compliance with the Radio Regulations, together with an appropriate extract from the radio log.
6.8 Battery maintenance
Batteries providing a source of energy for any part of the radio installation including those associated with uninterrupted power supplies are the responsibility of the radio
operator designated as having primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents and should be:
(a) tested on-load and off-load daily and, where necessary, brought up to the fully charged condition;
(b) tested once per week by means of a hydrometer where practicable, or where a hydrometer cannot be used, by a suitable load test; and
(c) checked once per month for the security of each battery and its connections and the condition of the batteries and their compartment or compartments.
The results of these tests should be recorded in the radio log.