Question 3. While acting as OOW, you encounter deterioration in

the condition of visibility. What action would you take?

Answer: As OOW I would take the following actions:

(a) Place the ship’s main engines on ‘stand-by’ and reduce the vessels

speed.

(b) Advise the Master of the change in visibility conditions.

(c) Commence sounding fog signals.

(d) Switch on the navigation lights.

(e) Close all watertight doors in the vessel.

(f) Commence systematic plotting of any targets on the radar.

(g) Place a current position on the chart.

(h) Post additional lookouts.

(i) Stop all noisy work on deck.

(j) Enter a statement of my actions into the ship’s Deck Log Book.

Question 4. When would you consider it necessary, as OOW, to call

the Master?

Answer: The OOW should call the Master in any of the following

circumstances:

(a) In the event of visibility dropping below 4 miles (company policy

may be more or less than this figure).

(b) If traffic was causing concern effecting the safe passage of the vessel.

(c) In the event of failure of any of the ship’s navigational

equipment.

QUESTIONS FOR THE RANK OF OFFICER OF THE WATCH 3

(d) If failing to sight a landfall when expecting to.

(e) If sighting a landfall when it is unexpected.

(f) If soundings are shelving when unexpected.

(g) In the event that difficulty is experienced in maintaining the

course.

(h) If a scheduled position is unattainable or suspect.

(i) In the event that the man management of watch keepers

becomes untenable.

(j) In the event of heavy weather or on receipt of a bad weather

forecast.

(k) On sighting ice, or receiving an ice warning of ice being

reported on or near the vessels track.

(l) If sighting oil on the surface.

(m) On any issue of security or shipboard alert.

(n) In any other emergency, such as fire or flooding, imminent

contact or contact with a submerged object.

Question 5. When on watch at night, the alarm for the non-function

of navigation lights is activated, what action would you take as OOW?

Answer:

• I would immediately inspect the navigation light sentinel to ascertain

which navigation light had malfunctioned and caused the

alarm to be triggered.

• I would make a note of the defective light and switch the backup

light on in its place and cancel the alarm.

• In the event the light circuit had failed I would activate the secondary

circuit and cancel the alarm.

• During the hours of darkness it may not be prudent, following a

risk assessment, to repair the light or circuit, before daylight hours.

Provided navigation lights remain operational on one or other circuits.

In any event the Master would be informed and repairs instigated

during daylight hours.