Standing the watch
- Monitor the machinery readings, the alarms and the bilges throughout the watch.
- Respond correctly to alarms and abnormal conditions, and know when to call for help or stop the machinery.
- Keep the engine-room log, recording fuel, oil, running hours and any events.
- Hand over the watch properly, with the machinery status clearly communicated to the relief.
On many small vessels the machinery space is periodically unmanned, with the alarms extended to the bridge; the operator must know the alarm system and the correct response to each alarm. A safe watch means monitoring the machinery, responding to the abnormal, keeping honest records, and handing over so the next person knows exactly the state of the plant. An alarm is a call to investigate, never simply to acknowledge and forget.
NOTE — The unmanned machinery space Where the space runs periodically unmanned with alarms on the bridge, the operator must know every alarm and its correct response, because the first warning of a problem may be a bridge alarm at night.
WARNING — Never just silence an alarm An alarm marks a real condition — high temperature, low pressure, high bilge level. Acknowledge it, understand what it protects, and deal with the cause. Silencing an alarm without acting is how small faults become casualties.