Unit 9 on the Watch

7/29/2019 Unit 9 on the Watch

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UNIT 9 ON THE WATCH- THE CREW AND ITS TASKS

The Marina is now well on the way towards the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, which is her first portof call on the route.It is high time we took a closer look at the Marinas crew and their tasks on board. We shall letthem tell us what they do on the watch to find out what life and work is like on a merchant vessel

what maritime careers really involve and require.

The crew on a ship is divided into three departments:The Deck DepartmentThe Engine DepartmentThe Catering Department

THE MASTER

ResponsibilityWe find the Masterof the ship, Captain Andrew James on the bridge.- Good morning Captain, we would like to ask you a few questions. How would you describe theCaptains or Masters role on a modern ship today?- Well, first of all you might say that it involves an enormous responsibility. The Captain is in

charge of everything and everyone on board. He has complete responsibility for running the shipwhile at sea and for the safety of the crew, passengers and cargo. Whenever there is anemergency or a serious problem of any kind I will be called upon. I do not stand a watch but inreality I am on duty 24 hours a day. Ill be on the bridge, conning the ship in foul weatheror foguntil the danger is over, for however long it takes, be it 24, 38 or 72 hours, and no matter howtired or exhausted I am. I am also the last to abandon ship in case of a disaster.Supervision

The Master of a ship is not actually a crew member. But I have to supervise the work of any otherofficer or crew member on board. I direct or oversee crew members who steer the vessel,determine its position, communicate with other vessels, operate and overhaul engines, performmaintenance, handle lines or operate vessel equipment of any kind. This means that, in theory, Ihave to be as familiar with the work done by stewards and cooks in the Catering department,

engineers and pump men (on a tanker) in the Engine department as I am with the work of theMates on the bridge and the Able Seamen, Ordinary Seamen and other deckhands in theDeck department. All this makes me into a kind ofPersonnelManager it is important to maintaina good morale, team spirit and atmosphere on board.Coordination

The Master of a merchant vessel is the agent of the company that owns the ship. This means thathe represents the company business in every operation both at sea and in port. A Captain has tobe able to coordinate both of these aspects. All this involves quite a lot of paper work. When weare at sea, my bridge officers and I maintain the Ships Log and the records of the shipsmovements. Then there are the Ships Papers such as the Certificate of Registry, Crew List etc.and the documents dealing with loading and unloading of the ship; the Bill of Lading, the CargoManifest, the Stowage Plan, the Dangerous Goods Stowage Plan, the Loading and

Discharging plan. There are quite a number of documents concerning the ships safety andsecurity, certificates issued by Classification Societies and other Maritime Authorities. They are allgranted by the ships Flag State. This bureaucracy is increasing all the time.Finally there are the documents for clearance with port authorities and Port State Control.Today port security regulations have become very strict the ISPS Code 1has increased ourwork as well.THE CHIEF OFFICER / THE CHIEF MATE DUTIES

1International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, it prescribes responsibilities to governments, shipping

companies, shipboard personnel, and port/facility personnel to "detect security threats and take preventative measuresagainst security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade. (came into force in 2004)" [

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Second in CommandThe Chief Officeror the Chief Mate is the head of the Deck department. This means that I amresponsible to the Master in all matters related to the Deck department. I am also the Captainsassistant in assigning duties to the deck crew and in managing personnel. I am second incommand under the Master and will take command in the event of the Masters death or inabilityto command the ship.On the watchI stand a watch on the bridge like the other mates when the ship is at sea. Navigating the ship isthe primary responsibility of all the Deck Officers. My watch is usually the 4-8 watch, and involvesall the ordinary work on the bridge; seeing that the correct course is being steered, posting radarand visual lookouts and monitoring the navigational equipment and their readings. Workingtogether with the deck crew I plan and supervise the loading and unloading of the cargo and I amresponsible for its safe delivery. I also have to make sure that Deck department equipment like allloading gear, cranes, ramps, doors, lifts and hoses are in good working order. I make sure thatdeck personnel maintain the mooring equipment, like the windlass, anchors, cables, wires andhawsers.

THE FIRST OFFICERFire-fighting drills and boat drills

My most important task is, naturally, navigation - to stand a watch and navigate the ship safely. Iam the ships damage control, safety officer and training officer. This means that I have to makesure that the station bill2 and the muster bill3 are properly prepared and posted and that the fire-fighting equipment and the life-saving equipment are accessible and operational. I see to it thatthe crew is well trained in using it and I am in charge on deck during fire and boat drills. It isextremely important that the crew know their emergency (ormuster) stations and duties. In areal emergency I have to take charge of the whole scene.

THE SECOND OFFICERThe Second Officer or Second Mate is, traditionally, the ships navigational officer. I have toensure that bridge electronics, navigational and alarm systems, and ships lights are in goodworking order. I regularly check bridge instruments and make sure that up-to-date charts andnavigational publications are available on board. I also correct the charts and update the

navigational publications if necessary. I provide the Master with information on transit routes toports of call including the Sailing Directions, Coast Pilot, Light List and Tide and CurrentTables and any other source of information that might be required before entering or leaving port.Finally, I plot the voyage track and work out the course. In the event of GPS failure I taketerrestrial or celestial fixes for positioning. I assist the Captain in taking the ship in and out ofports. In addition to all this I am also the ships medical officer.

The Able SeamanI must have a thorough knowledge of, and be

able to use, all deck gear and equipment. Icarry out maintenance of deck rigging andmachinery such as the loading gear, cranes,ramps, doors, lifts and hoses and the

mooring equipment, such as the windlass,anchors, cables, wires and hawsers. In allthese tasks I am assisted by the ordinaryseamen or other deckhands, who also domuch of the work. We clean, chip, scrape,wire brush, prime, and/or paint the hull,bulkheads, decks, passageways, deck

2a bill posted in the crews quarters and other conspicuous places, listing the station of the crew at maneuvers and

emergency drills3

a list of crew and passengers and their functions in a distress or drill

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machinery, or spaces, as directed. In port I handle lines and assist with the loading anddischarging of cargo, and see to it that the cargo holds are cleaned and in operational condition. Istand a watch when the ship is underway as quartermasterorhelmsman and steer the shipunder the direct orders of the deck officers. This means I have to understand steeringcommands, have certain knowledge of nautical terms, Rules of the Road, fog and distresssignals, running lights, the compass etc. I carry out important tasks in emergencies. During afire, for example, I operate firefighting equipment. If the order to abandon ship is given I assist inthe releasing and launching of lifeboats and life-rafts. In short my tasks are many-sided andinteresting.

THE ENGINE DEPARTMENTTHE CHIEF ENGINEERI am the head of the Engine Department and am responsible for personnel and the properoperation, maintenance, and safety of the vessels propulsion system, power generation systemand all auxiliary machinery and spaces. I have to decide on effective repairs and I report defectsthat may affect the ships performance to the Master. I also advise the Master on all mattersrelating to machinery usage, fuel requirements and an overall economical use of supplies andstores. I order, receive, and maintain a proper inventory of spare parts and supplies andsupervise bunkering. I see to it that fuel and water is monitored daily. I assign and supervise the

work done by engine department personnel. I set engine room watches, specify duties, and makesure that watches are maintained.

A MARINE ENGINEERToday various specialists make up the staff working in the Engine Department. But the MarineEngineer or Chief Electrician still has to be a jack of all trades. It is the Engineer or Electrician incharge that has to know all about the mechanical and electrical engineering on board. He has gotto have the know-how to service the engines and keep them running in good condition; when theship is at sea, any breakdown in the power system, machinery, piping, or steel structure willhave to be repaired as best as can be done without any help from outside. A total blackout orpropulsion problems can be extremely dangerous for the vessel and its crew. If the ship startsdrifting in a strong wind, it may lead to listing and in the worst case cause the ship to capsize.No wonder the Engine room has been called the heart of the ship.

THE CATERING DEPARTMENTCHIEF STEWARD / COOKI am responsible for the overall efficiency of the Catering Department. It is my job to see that thecrew is well fed, get a healthy diet and do not have to go hungry for long. I buy and control thefood supplies and provisions on board in consultation with the Master. The sea usually gives aman a healthy appetite and the crew on board the Marina are no exception. Planning a healthydiet for the crew, deciding on the menus and supervising meals, are some of my duties. As on somany newer ships my job as Chief Steward on the Marina is combined with the job of Chief Cook.This is no problem for me, as I was Chief Cook on a passenger ferry for a number of years. AsChief Cook I direct the preparation of meals with their various dishes. I do a great deal of thecooking myself, as I enjoy it very much. Assistant Cook prepares the raw ingredients for cookingand he does most of the cooking of hot meals. The main meal includes three courses a starter,

a main course and a dessert. The Baker does all the baking on board - an important task, asfreshly baked bread makes all the difference. The Officers take their meals in the Dining Saloonand are served at the table by a waiter. One of my tasks is to direct the serving of meals. I alsosee to it that the galley, the mess and the living spaces on board are kept clean and tidy. Thistask is carried out by the messmates.

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UNIT 9 ON THE WATCH- THE CREW AND ITS TASK- EXERCISES

Complete the table for the departments of a ship:

DECK DEPARTMENT ENGINE DEPARTMENT CATERING DEPARTMENT

THE MASTER

I. Fill in the gaps with the words from the list:1. The First Mate was uncertain about what to do so hethe

Captain.2. Who..this operation?3. The captain is always called upon in..4. Captain James hadfor 24 hours in..weather.5. No wonder he was6. Who is the last man .ship in a disaster?7. During the storm the Captain .the ship while the

helmsman.the correct course.8. A Masters workanresponsibility.9. Does a Master.like the crew members?

an emergency, to abandon, to involve, to be in charge with, enormous, to be on duty, tocon, stand a watch, foul, call upon, to steer, exhausted

II. Find synonyms in the text for the expressions in the box:

The Master of a ship is not actually a crew member. But he has to supervise the work of anyofficer or crew member on board. He directs or oversees crew members who steer the vessel,determine its position, communicate with other vessels, operate or overhaul engines, performmaintenance, handle lines or operate vessel equipment of any kind.This means he has to be as familiar with the work done by stewards and cooks in the Stewardsdepartment, engineers, the Engine department, as he is with the work of the mates on the bridgeand the Able Seamen and deck hands in the Deck department. All this makes him into a kind ofPersonnel Manager- it is important to maintain a good morale, team spirit and atmosphere onboard.

supervises, to work with the ships ropes, a senior seaman, service, to make somethingwork, a so-called ordinary seaman, take into parts and check, have contact with, guides

III. Choose the correct alternative:

1. The Master of a merchant vessel is the.of the company whoowns the ship.

a) agent b) employee c) manager

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2. When we are at sea my bridge officers and I maintain the Ships Log and..of the shipsmovements.

a) data b) facts c) records

3.There are also quite a number of documents for.with port authorities and Port StateControl.

a) clearance b) dealing c) handling

4. Today porthave become very strict- the has increased our workas well.

a) environmental care b) health regulations c) security regulationsa) AMVER system b) IMO Rules c) ISPS Code

IV. Fill in the missing words:

1. refers to the inspection of foreign ships in national ports to ensurethat the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of the internationalregulations and that the ship is manned and operated in compliance with these rules.2. A..is a document that gives the terms of a contract between a shipper

and a transportation company. It serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage and receiptof goods.3. The.is a log book where all information about the ships movementsand events during a voyage is recorded.4...stands for International Ship and Ports Facility Security Code .5. A list of all the crew members on board is the 6.refers to a permission from someone in authority.7. A detailed summary of the total cargo of the vessel, used principally for Customs purposes, iscalled the. . The document lists in detail all the bills of lading issued bya carrier or its agent or master for a specific voyage.8. A person whose job is to deal with business for someone else is an. .9. The services and personnel in port that take care of loading and unloading the vessel arecalled

10. A document showing that the vessel is properly registered with the authorities isthe..11. A plan for overall storage of the cargo on the vessel is calledthe

Choose from: Stowage Plan, the Certificate of Registry, Port State Control, Ships Log, Billof Lading, Crew list, Cargo Manifest, agent, ISPS, clearance, stevedoring services.

THE CHIEF OFFICER/ THE CHIEF MATEV. The verbs in the list are used when speaking of work, tasks and duties. Fill in

the gaps with the correct form of the verbs given.

Word study: Maintenance.

to maintain, to perform maintenance, to monitor, to check, to work, to function, tooverhaul, to be in good working order/ in good condition

1. The crew memberson the equipment both on deck and in theengine room.2. The Masterthe Ships Log and records of the ships movements.3. The Matethe ships position on charts.4. The First Mate.the bridge instruments and their readings.5. Down in the Engine room they often have.the engines while in

port.

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6. The deck hands make sure that the deck equipment..7. The radar is not.

Word study: Managing job tasksto handle, to assign, to direct/to guide, to supervise/to oversee, to plan to prepare, tomake sure/to ensure/to see to it, to look after, to operate, to post

1. Do you know how..this radar?2. The deckhand.the lines when casting off.3. The First Mate.duties to the deck crew.4. Sometimes it is necessary.a lookout to study the surroundings.5. The Chief Engineer .his engineers, oilers and pump men in their

work.6. The First Mate..work on deck.7. You must the ship for loading.8. The Chief Matethe loading and discharging.9. The First Mate.the work on deck.10. He also has to.that it is in good working order.

Word study: Command/Responsibility

to answer for, to take charge of, to be in command, to be responsible for, to beresponsible to, to be in charge of, to take command

1. The Masterthe safety of the whole ship the cargo and thecrew.

2. He..the Company that owns the ship.3. The Chief Mate is second..4. He..the Master.5. If the Master dies or is incapacitated, the Chief Mate6. During a real emergency the Chief Mate..the whole scene in

rescue operations.7. That was a bad mistake, you will have to it.

VI. Fill in the missing words:1.When there is danger on board, the crew will hear a signal which tells them to assemble at theirstations.2.If there has been a leakage on board or fire causing damage the First Mate might send outa.control team.3. To leave the ship in case of emergency is called to.ship.4. Practice sessions covering the use of fire fighting and life saving equipment arecalled.drills and ..drills.5.A list of the vessels crew showing their duties in a distress is the..list.

THE SECOND OFFICER

VII. Fill in the gaps with the words from the list:

plots, assists, correct, check, ensures, provides, update

1. The second officer..the Master in taking the ship in and out of ports.2. He also the voyage track on charts.3. It is important tothe bridge instruments from time to time to see that they areworking properly.4. The Second Officer..that everything is in order.5. He also..the Master with information on transit routes to ports.

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6. Because of changes in the fairway it is sometimes necessary to.the charts.7. Nowadays information rather quickly becomes out-dated so be suretonavigational publications from time to time.

VIII. Fill in the gaps with the words from the list:

terrestrial, Current Tables, Light List, Emergency Position Indicating Beacon, celestial,transit, positioning, Sailing Directions, publications, indicate, starboard, masthead, flare,alarm system, red, stern, white, green

1. A fix taken from the stars and sky is a..fix. A fix taken from land marks or seamarks isa..fix.2. A publication that gives information on lighthouses and buoys isthe3. A route from the port of departure to the port of destination is a ..route.4. Working out or calculating the positioning in one word is called.5. Instructions and advice on how to navigate in a particular area arecalled.6 .In the waters of, for example, the British coast you will need The Tide and

7. EPIRB is short for8. Another word for to show is to..

9. The main navigation lights are:

Port Sidelight, colour.,Sidelight, colour.,Top..Light,colour.,Light, colour white.

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10. The radio equipment, EPIRBs, flares and smoke signals are all part of theships.11. A light signal in an emergency is a rocket or.12. The Admiralty List of Lights and the Rules of the Road are navigational.

THE ABLE SEAMANXII. Fill in the missing words:

1. Another word for deck equipment is deck2. The equipment for tying up the vessel to the quay is

the..equipment.3. The equipment for getting the cargo on board is the.4. Another word for corridor is5. A traditional word for the seaman who steers the vessel is the. and

sometimes the quartermaster.6. To remove dirt or paint from, for example, the deck with a sharp edge is

to7. To tidy up a piece of equipment and prepare it for special treatment is

to8. To break off small pieces of something is to..9. A term used in navigational vocabulary is a term.10. Another word for an ordinary seaman is11. Navigational lights are sometimes called.12. The regulations for fairway navigation are found in the.13. Ramps, doors, cranes and lifts are part of the loading..

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14. The windlass, ropes cables and wires are part of the..equipment.

THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT, THE CHIEF ENGINEER, A MARINE ENGINEER

XIV. Fill in the gaps with the words from the list:

defects, auxiliary, bunkering, running, affect, economical, monitors, inventory, pumpmen ,specify, service, know-how, jack of all trades, successfully, exactly

1. The main engine was not ..properly, so we had to make use of the..engine.

2. The Chief Engineer decided on repairs and reported on the .to theMaster.

3. Engine trouble may..the ships performance.4. The Chief Engineer never wastes anything and sees to it that there is

anuse of fuel, supplies and stores.5. Today he is looking over the..to see that nothing is missing.6. Hefuel and water supplies every day and supervises

when the vessel is filling up tanks.

7. It is important tothe tasks for the crew, so that theyknowwhat to do on a watch.

8. Today the machinery is very specialized and needs different kindof

9. On tankers .. operate cargo tanks.10. In olden days work in the engine room included a little bit of everything and an engineer

had to be a..11. But today engineers have to have a great deal of.to carry out their

work..

THE STEWARDS DEPARTMENT

XV. CHIEF STEWARD/COOK

Read and listen to the text. Give definitions or synonyms for the underlined words:I am responsible for the overall efficiency of the Catering Department. It is my job to see that thecrew is well fed, get a healthy diet and do not have to go hungry for long. I buy and control thefood supplies and provisions on board in consultation with the Master. The sea usually gives aman a healthy appetite and the crew on the Marina are no exception. Planning a healthy diet forthe crew, deciding on the menus and supervising meals, are some of my duties. As on so manynewer ships my job as a Chief Steward on the Marina is combined with the job of Chief Cook.This is no problem for me, as I was Chief Cook on a passenger ferry for a number of years.

As Chief Cook I direct the preparation of meals with their various dishes. I do a great deal ofcooking myself, as I enjoy it very much. Assistant cook prepares the raw ingredients for cookingand he does most of the cooking of hot meals. The main meal includes three course- a starter, amain course and a dessert. The Baker does all the baking on board- an important task, as freshly

baked bread makes all the difference.The officers take their meals in the Dinning Saloon and are served at the table by a waiter. One ofmy tasks is to direct the serving of the meals. I also see to it that the galley, the mess and theliving spaces on board are kept clean and tidy. This task is carried out by the messmates.

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REVISION EXERCISEPut the different tasks and responsibilities under the correct headings:

THE CAPTAIN THE CHIEF MATE THE FIRST MATE

THE SECOND MATE ABLE SEAMAN THE CHIEF ENGINEER

1. is head of theengine department

5. stands on watch asquartermaster

9. is the companyagent

13. is the ship trainingofficer

2. scrapes and wire-brushes the hull

6. carries outmaintenance on deckequipment

10. is in charge duringboat drills

14. plans andsupervises loading

3. advises the Masteron fuel requirements

7. plots the voyage oncharts

11. is second incommand

15. corrects andupdates the charts

4. carries outmaintenance on deckequipment

8. is responsible forthe safety of the ship,crew and cargo

12. is traditionally theships navigatingofficer

16. is head of deckdepartment

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Unit 9 on the Watch