Watchkeeping

How good are your watchkeepers?

An incident to learn about when a vessel ran aground after it’s anchor dragged unnoticed in the night!

In the early hours, a commercial vessel ran aground on a sandbank after dragging its anchor in strong tidal currents. Far less anchor chain was deployed for the conditions.

The watchkeeper failed to monitor the vessel’s position and only realized it had moved when contacted by authorities. Without alerting the Master, he attempted to re-anchor alone in darkness and continued maneuvering despite repeated warnings from authorities.

During the early morning, the vessel grounded and remained stuck for about 12 hours before refloating. The investigation found no injuries or pollution, but minor hull damage and serious procedural lapses. It cited insufficient anchoring scope, lack of proper watchkeeping, poor communication, and inadequate staffing.

The ship’s owner responded by replacing the Master and tightening procedures across the fleet.

The above incident is too common!  I’ve personally walked into the wheelhouse of a trawler that was trawling and found nobody there! The vessel was running on auto pilot and while alarms were set the bottom line is there was no one on watch.

This is very concerning on so many levels to think that my life and the lives of all crew was in the hands of a couple of alarms that no one was there to monitor.

If you’re on watch you must take it seriously and do your job to protect the vessel and all those onboard. It’s not a time to lay back and rest, take a snooze or watch a video. Your job is to protect the vessel and all those onboard while you’re on watch.

Any person on watch must know and understand the navigational equipment, the different alarms and what they mean, the radios and when to call the Master.

For commercial vessels they should have a watchkeeping procedure in the vessels SMS, if not, you need to have ONE NOW, TODAY!

This procedure needs to have a handover step and details of tasks when underway or at anchor. I’ve been to far too many incidents, some with minor injures and other where a death has occurred, or a vessel has been damaged or lost.

Here’s a list of DO NOT’S to remember when on watch…

• DO NOT just sit in the helm seat for your watch period
• DO NOT watch TV or a video
• DO NOT play on your phone or tablet
• DO NOT rely on you radar

More important are the DO’s which are…

• DO get up and check out the sides and astern regularly
• DO stay on the planned course
• DO maintain safe navigation
• DO monitor machinery alarms
• DO Monitor high water alarms (if fitted)
• DO Remain aware of other conditions that may affect the vessel or its safety
• DO CALL THE MASTER IF IN DOUBT

The above are based on being underway but what about when you’re at anchor?

There’s a few critical steps that you need to follow if you are at anchor…

• Record the vessels position (if not already noted) in the vessels Log Book
• Ensure the vessel is not dragging the anchor or shifting
• Maintain a lookout at all times
• CALL THE MASTER IF IN DOUBT

Marine Order 505 specifies that no person is to undertake a navigational watch unless they:

1. Hold the appropriate Certificate of Competency
2. Hold a GPH certificate and are under general supervision
3. Are a deckhand under direct supervision of the Master or other suitably qualified crew member

Shorlink’s Recommendation

Number one is to ensure you have an appropriate hand over process in place, don’t just say “stay on this course and call me in 4 hours”.

Next is to have a series of steps for the watchkeeper to follow when underway and also when at anchor.

Tip

Do not, I repeat do not let anyone stand watch without doing the following:

1. Ensuring they have been fully inducted into all the navigation equipment, alarms other vital points relevant to your vessel;
2. Have an appropriate certificate or are a GPH under general supervision or a deckhand under direct supervision
3. Never allow a new watchkeeper, who has been properly inducted, to stand a watch alone. Ensure an experienced watchkeeper is with them until they are deemed competent to stand watch alone.

Remember, if you’re on watch and start to feel tired or are falling asleep wake someone immediately because is not only your life it’s the life of all those onboard in your hands!