Elements and Performance Criteria
- Establish safe watchkeeping procedures on vessels, potentially with limited qualified personnel
- Set of Master standing orders is developed to supplement vessel safety management system (SMS) noting number of watchkeeping personnel
- Accepted principles, vessel safety management procedures and Master standing orders are conformed with in conduct, handover and relief of watch
- Appropriate bridge team is established according to vessel SMS and bridge personnel are confirmed as fit for duty
- Duties are assigned to members of bridge team and their performance of those duties is monitored
- Members of bridge team are correctly briefed on their duties
- Action is taken to ensure vessel is navigated safely using appropriate position fixing techniques to check location the vessel and to maintain movement of vessel within planned limitations
- Action is taken to ensure progress of vessel with respect to passage plan is analysed and vessel navigation is managed appropriately to maintain a required estimated time of arrival at a point in the plan
- Accepted principles and procedures are conformed with in relation to frequency and extent of monitoring of traffic, vessel and environment
- Responsibility for safety of navigation is defined according to vessel SMS
- Safe navigational practice is achieved by implementing accepted bridge resource management principles and procedures
- Action is taken to ensure fatigue management strategies are correctly applied by bridge management team
- Respond to potential collision and emergency situations
- Leadership of bridge team is taken when called to bridge in response to navigational situation
- Circumstances when assistance is required when Master is performing watchkeeping duties are identified
- Potential collision situations are analyse and appropriate action is taken to avoid collision in ample time and in compliance with international collision regulations, resulting in a safe passing distance and following practices of good seamanship
- SMS procedures and compliance with standard watchkeeping principles are correctly implemented when taking over bridge watch from officer of the watch
- Appropriate action is taken to initiate search and rescue procedures on receipt of a distress signal
- Appropriate advice is given to watchkeepers and correct actions are implemented regarding a response to navigational or operational emergency situations
- Maintain watchkeeping records