WATCHKEEPING PROCEDURES

Refer to STCW 95 Pt.A-VIII/2

In addition:
At commencement of the watch a full tour of the engine room should be made checking
that current operational parameters of all machinery is correct. That is, check all oil levels
and temperatures are within parameters. Check that there are no unusual noises and that all
machinery is running satisfactory. Check that bilges are empty & oil free.
Ensure that the engine room is in a clean and tidy condition. “Good housekeeping” plays an
important part towards the safety and efficiency of the engine room.
When satisfied that everything is satisfactory, take over the watch.
During the watch ensure that the main propulsion plant and auxiliary systems are kept
under constant surveillance, and operated at maximum efficiency.
Inspections of the machinery, steering gear and adjacent machinery spaces are to be made
at suitable intervals. Check that all machinery is running normally and running within
specified parameters. I.E. correct oil levels & pressures, temperatures, amps etc. Appropriate
action to be made to rectify any defects.
All incidents and any changes to plant conditions are to be recorded in the Engine room log
book.
Alarms must not be canceled without their cause being fully understood and investigated.
The watchkeeping engineer shall ensure that all stand by machinery is instantly available.
The watchkeeping engineer shall ensure that all machinery that is to be worked on shall be
isolated, by passed and made safe to work on.
The Chief Engineer is to be informed of any plant changes which may effect the ships speed,
imminent steering failure, stoppage of the main engine, any alteration in the generation of
electric power or anything else that may effect the safety of the vessel.
The bridge should be notified, where possible, before any operational changes are made to
give maximum possible time to take whatever actions are necessary to avoid a marine casualty.
During the watch the Engineer is to ensure that all bilges and tank tops are kept dry and free
from oil. The regulations regarding the discharge of engine room bilges are to be strictly
adhered to.
The watchkeeping engineer is to handover to the relief engineer all necessary information of
all machinery, together with any specific instructions from the or Chief Engineer.

The watchkeeping engineer is to leave all machinery in good working order, bilges and
tank tops empty and oil free and with all necessary stand by machinery ready for immediate use.
The out going watchkeeping engineer is to sign the engine log book.