Unit 9 on the Watch

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 port of call on the route. It is high time we took a closer closer look at the Marina’s Marina’s crew and their tasks on board. board. We shall let them tell us what they do on the watch to find out what life and work is like on a merchant vessel  – what maritime maritime careers really involve involve and require. The crew on a ship is divided into three departments: The Deck Department The Engine Department The Catering Department THE MASTER Responsibility  We find the Master of Master of the ship, Captain Andrew James on the bridge. - Good morning Captain, we would like to ask you a few questions. How would you describe the Captain’s or Master’s 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 ship while at sea and for the safety of the crew, passengers and cargo. Whenever there is an emergency emergency or a serious problem problem of any kind I will will be called called upon. I do not stand a watch but in reality I am on duty 24 hours a day. I’ll be on the bridge, conning the ship in foul weather or weather  or fog until the danger is over, for however long it takes, be it 24, 38 or 72 hours, and no matter how tired or exhausted I am. I am also the last to abandon sh ip 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 other  officer 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, perform maintenance, handle lines or operate vessel equipment of any kind. This means that, in theory, I have 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 the Mates on the bridge and the Able Seamen, Seamen, Ordinary Seamen and other  deckhands in the Deck department. All this makes me into a kind of Personnel  of  Personnel Manager Manager – it is important to maintain a good morale, morale, team spirit and atmosphere on board. Coordination The Master of a merchant vessel is the a gent of the company that owns the ship. This means that he represents the company business in every operation both at sea and in port. A Captain has to be able to coordinate both of these aspects. All this involves quite a lot of paper work. When we are at sea, my bridge officers and I maintain the Ship’s Log and the records of the ship’s movements. Then there are the Ship’s Papers such as the Certificate of Registry, Registry , Crew List etc. and the documents dealing with loading and unloading of the ship; the Bill of Lading, Lading , the Cargo Manifest, Manifest, the the Stowage Stowage Plan, Plan, the Dangerou Dangerous s Goods Goods Stowage Stowage Plan, Plan, the the Loading Loading and Discharging plan. plan . There are quite a number of documents concerning the ship’s safety and security, certificates issued by Classification Classification Societies and other Maritime Authorities. They are all granted by the ship’s Flag State. State . This bureaucracy is increasing all the time. Finally there are the documents for  clearance with port authorities and Port State Control. Control . Today port security regulations have become very strict – the ISPS Code 1has increased our  work as well. THE CHIEF OFFICER / THE CHIEF MATE – DUTIES 1

International 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 measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade. (came into force in 2004)" [

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Second in Command  The Chief Officer  or the Chief Mate is the head of the Deck department. This means that I am responsible to the Master in all matters related to the Deck department. I am also the Captain’s assistant in assigning duties to the deck crew and in managing personnel. I am second in command under the Master and will take command in the event of the Master’s death or inability to command the ship. On the watch I stand a watch on the bridge like the other mates when the ship is at sea. Navigating the ship is the primary responsibility of all the Deck Officers. My watch is usually the 4-8 watch, and involves all the ordinary work on the bridge; seeing that the correct course is being steered, posting radar  and visual lookouts and monitoring the navigational equipment and their readings. Working together with the deck crew I plan and supervise the loading and unloading of the cargo and I am responsible for its safe delivery. I also have to make sure that Deck department equipment like all loading gear, cranes, ramps, doors, lifts and hoses are in good working order. I make sure that deck personnel maintain the mooring equipment, like the windlass, anchors, cables, wires and hawsers. THE FIRST OFFICER Fire-fighting drills and boat drills My most important task is, naturally, navigation - to stand a watch and navigate the ship safely. I am the ship’s damage control, safety officer and training officer. This means that I have to make sure that the station bill2 and the muster bill3 are properly prepared and posted and that the firefighting equipment and the life-saving equipment are accessible and operational. I see to it that the crew is well trained in using it and I am in charge on deck during fire and boat drills. It is extremely important that the crew know their emergency (or  muster) stations and duties. In a real emergency I have to take charge of the whole scene. THE SECOND OFFICER The Second Officer or Second Mate is, traditionally, the ship’s navigational officer . I have to ensure that bridge electronics, navigational and alarm systems, and ship’s lights are in good working order. I regularly check bridge instruments and make sure that up-to-date charts and navigational 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 to ports of call including the Sailing Directions, Coast Pilot, Light List and Tide and Current Tables 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 take terrestrial or celestial fixes for positioning. I assist the Captain in taking the ship in and out of  ports. In addition to all this I am also the ship’s medical officer. The Able Seaman I

must have a thorough knowledge of, and be able to use, all deck gear and equipment. I carry out maintenance of  deck rigging and machinery 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 all these tasks I am assisted by the ordinary seamen or other deckhands, who also do much of the work. We clean, chip, scrape, wire brush, prime, and/or paint the hull, bulkheads, decks, passageways, deck

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a bill posted in the crew’s quarters and other conspicuous places, listing the station of the crew at maneuvers and emergency drills 3 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 and discharging of cargo, and see to it that the cargo holds are cleaned and in operational condition. I stand a watch when the ship is underway as quartermaster or  helmsman and steer the ship under the direct orders of the deck officers. This means I have to understand steering commands, have certain knowledge of  nautical terms, Rules of the Road, fog and distress signals, running lights, the compass etc. I carry out important tasks in emergencies. During a fire, for example, I operate firefighting equipment. If the order to abandon ship is given I assist in the releasing and launching of  lifeboats and life-rafts. In short my tasks are many-sided and interesting.

THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT THE CHIEF ENGINEER I am the head of the Engine Department and am responsible for personnel and the proper  operation, maintenance, and safety of the vessel’s propulsion system, power generation system and all auxiliary machinery and spaces. I have to decide on effective repairs and I report defects that may affect the ship’s performance to the Master. I also advise the Master on all matters relating to machinery usage, fuel requirements and an overall economical use of supplies and stores. I order, receive, and maintain a proper inventory of  spare parts and supplies and supervise 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 make sure that watches are maintained. A MARINE ENGINEER Today various specialists make up the staff working in the Engine Department. But the Marine Engineer or Chief Electrician still has to be “a jack of all trades”. It is the Engineer or Electrician in charge that has to know all about the mechanical and electrical engineering on board. He has got to have the know-how to service the engines and keep them running in good condition; when the ship is at sea, any breakdown in the power system, machinery, piping, or steel structure will have to be repaired as best as can be done without any help from outside. A total blackout or  propulsion problems can be extremely dangerous for the vessel and its crew. If the ship starts drifting 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 DEPARTMENT CHIEF STEWARD / COOK I am responsible for the overall efficiency of the Catering Department. It is my job to see that the crew is well fed, get a healthy diet and do not have to go hungry for long. I buy and control the food supplies and provisions on board in consultation with the Master. The sea usually gives a man a healthy appetite and the crew on board the Marina are no exception. Planning a healthy diet for the crew, deciding on the menus and supervising meals, are some of my duties. As on so many 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. As Chief Cook I direct the preparation of meals with their various dishes. I do a great deal of the cooking myself, as I enjoy it very much. Assistant Cook prepares the raw ingredients for cooking and 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, as freshly baked bread makes all the difference. The Officers take their meals in the Dining Saloon and are served at the table by a waiter. One of my tasks is to direct the serving of meals. I also see to it that the galley, the mess and the living spaces on board are kept clean and tidy. This task 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. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Fill in the gaps with the words from the list: The First Mate was uncertain about what to do so he……………………………the Captain. Who……………………………..this operation? The captain is always called upon in………………………………………….. Captain James had…………………………for 24 hours in………………..weather. No wonder he was…………………………………………… Who is the last man ………………………….ship in a disaster? During the storm the Captain …………………………….the ship while the helmsman……………………………….the correct course. A Master’s work………………………an………………………responsibility. Does a Master……………………………………….like the crew members?

an emergency, to abandon, to involve, to be in charge with, enormous, to be on duty, to con, 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 any officer 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, perform maintenance, 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 Steward’s department, engineers, the Engine department, as he is with the work of the mates on the bridge and the Able Seamen and deck hands in the Deck department. All this makes him into a kind of  Personnel Manager- it is important to maintain a good morale, team spirit and atmosphere on board. supervises, to work with the ship’s ropes, a senior seaman, service, to make something  work, 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 who owns 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 Ship’s Log and…..of the ship’s movements. a) data b) facts c) records 3.There are also quite a number of documents for………….with port authorities and Port State Control. a) clearance b) dealing c) handling 4. as well.

Today port……have become very strict- the ………………has increased our work a) environmental care a) AMVER system

IV.

b) health regulations b) IMO Rules

c) security regulations c) ISPS Code

Fill in the missing words:

1. …………………………………refers to the inspection of foreign ships in national ports to ensure that the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of the international regulations 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 receipt of goods. 3. The…………………………….is a log book where all information about the ship’s movements and 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, is called the………………………………. . The document lists in detail all the bills of lading issued by a 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 are called……………………………………… 10. A document showing that the vessel is properly registered with the authorities is the……………………………………….. 11. A plan for overall storage of the cargo on the vessel is called the……………………………………… Choose from: Stowage Plan, the Certificate of Registry, Port State Control, Ship’s Log, Bill  of Lading, Crew list, Cargo Manifest, agent, ISPS, clearance, stevedoring services. THE CHIEF OFFICER/ THE CHIEF MATE  V. 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, to overhaul, to be in good working order/ in good condition 1. The crew members………………………………on the equipment both on deck and in the engine room. 2. The Master……………………………the Ship’s Log and records of the ship’s movements. 3. The Mate…………………………the ship’s 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. 7.

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

Word study: Managing job tasks to handle, to assign, to direct/to guide, to supervise/to oversee, to plan to prepare, to make sure/to ensure/to see to it, to look after, to operate, to post  1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Do you know how………………………..this radar? The deckhand…………………………….the lines when casting off. The First Mate………………………….duties to the deck crew. Sometimes it is necessary…………………….a lookout to study the surroundings. The Chief Engineer …………………………….his engineers, oilers and pump men in their  work. The First Mate……………………………..work on deck. You must……………………… the ship for loading. The Chief Mate…………………the loading and discharging. The First Mate………………….the work on deck. 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 be responsible to, to be in charge of, to take command  1. The Master………………………………the safety of the whole ship the cargo and the crew. 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 Mate………………………………… 6. 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 their  …………………………stations. 2.If there has been a leakage on board or fire causing damage the First Mate might send out a……………………………….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 are called……………………….drills and ……………………………..drills. 5.A list of the vessel’s 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 to……the bridge instruments from time to time to see that they are working 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 sure to……………navigational 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 o r seamarks is a……………………………………..fix. 2. A publication that gives information on lighthouses and buoys is the………………………………………………………………… 3. 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 are called………………………………. 6 .In the waters of, for example, the British coast you will need The Tide and …………………… 7. EPIRB is short for…………………………………………………………… 8. 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 the ship’s…………………………. 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 SEAMAN   XII. Fill in the missing words: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Another word for deck equipment is deck……………………………………………… The equipment for tying up the vessel to the quay is the………………………………..equipment. The equipment for getting the cargo on board is the………………………………. Another word for corridor is……………………………………………………… A traditional word for the seaman who steers the vessel is the……………………. and sometimes the quartermaster. To remove dirt or paint from, for example, the deck with a sharp edge is to……………………………………… To tidy up a piece of equipment and prepare it for special treatment is to………………………………………… To break off small pieces of something is to……………………………………….. A term used in navigational vocabulary is a …………………………………term. Another word for an ordinary seaman is………………………………………… Navigational lights are sometimes called………………………………………. The regulations for fairway navigation are found in the…………………………. Ramps, doors, cranes and lifts are part of the loading…………………………..

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14. The windlass, ropes cables the………………………………..equipment.

and

wires

are

part

of  

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, pump men ,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 the Master. 3. Engine trouble may……………………………..the ship’s performance. 4. The Chief Engineer never wastes anything and sees to it that there is an…………………………use of fuel, supplies and stores. 5. Today he is looking over the………………………………..to see that nothing is missing. 6. He…………………………fuel and water supplies every day and supervises ……………………………when the vessel is filling up tanks. 7. It is important to……………………………the tasks for the crew, so that they know…………………what to do on a watch. 8. Today the machinery is very specialized and needs different kind of…………………………… 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 STEWARD’S 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 the crew is well fed, get a healthy diet and do not have to go hungry for long. I buy and control the food supplies and provisions on board in consultation with the Master. The sea usually gives a man a healthy appetite and the crew on the Marina are no exception. Planning a healthy diet for  the crew, deciding on the menus and supervising meals, are some of my duties. As on so many newer 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 of  cooking myself, as I enjoy it very much. Assistant cook prepares the raw ingredients for cooking and he does most of the cooking of hot meals. The main meal includes three course- a starter, a main 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 of  my tasks is to direct the serving of the meals. I also see to it that the galley, the mess and the living spaces on board are kept clean and tidy. This task is carried out by the messmates.

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REVISION EXERCISE  Put 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 the engine department 2. scrapes and wirebrushes the hull 3. advises the Master  on fuel requirements 4. carries out maintenance on deck equipment

5. stands on watch as quartermaster  6. carries out maintenance on deck equipment 7. plots the voyage on charts 8. is responsible for  the safety of the ship, crew and cargo

9. is the company agent

13. is the ship training officer 

10. is in charge during boat drills

14. plans and supervises loading

11. is second in command 12. is traditionally the ship’s navigating officer 

15. corrects and updates the charts 16. is head of deck department

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