Watch Keeping Duties in the Engine Room

WATCH KEEPING

The machinery driving a vessel which is underway is usually operated 24 hours a day. All running machinery must be controlled continuously in order to prevent any failure of the equipment. The majority of control systems on modern ships are automatic. A ship may operate for agreed periods with unmanned machinery, called UMS, which stands for Unattended Machinery Spaces.

The standard system of watches adopted on board is usually a four-hour period on duty followed by eight-hour rest. The word “watch” means both the period and the crew working at that time. The three watches in any 12 hour period are usually: 12 to 4, 4 to 8, 8 to 12. Thus, for instance, an engineer on duty for the 8 to 12 watch works from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight.

A watch is usually made up of an engineer in charge with an assistant engineer and a rating. Their duties include inspecting the main propulsion plant, auxiliary machinery and steering gear spaces. They should note any malfunctions and breakdowns, report and correct them.



Taken from: MARENG Software

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