Standing the watch to the STCW standard
- Take over, keep and hand over the watch to the principles of the STCW Code.
- Monitor all the machinery, the alarms and the bilges, and record the readings in the log.
- Understand and follow the standing orders and the chief engineer's night orders.
- Know when and how to call for assistance and to inform the bridge of anything affecting the ship.
A safe engineering watch means the machinery is monitored, the abnormal is acted on, the records are kept, and the watch is handed over so the relief knows exactly the state of the plant. The watchkeeper takes over only when fit and fully briefed, keeps the watch attentively, and hands over only to a relief who is likewise fit and informed. Any condition affecting the safe operation of the ship is reported to the bridge and, as required, to the chief engineer.
NOTE — A proper handover is a fit, briefed relief The watch is handed over only when the relieving engineer is fit for duty and fully informed of the machinery status, any defects, and any work in hand. A rushed or partial handover is where problems slip through.
WARNING — Report anything affecting the ship to the bridge A machinery problem that affects the ship's speed, manoeuvring or safety must be reported to the bridge at once. The engineer does not keep such a problem to themselves while trying to fix it unnoticed.