John B.

Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo, Inc

M.H. del Pilar Street, Molo, Iloilo City
College of Maritime Education

A Learning Module
Engineering Watchkeeping (EWatch)

Prepared by
Engr. Allan A. Roberto, RME, MME
College Instructor
 UNIT 1
Principles to be observed in keeping an Engineering Watch

Here are the major learning outcomes of this unit:

Explain principles to be observed in an engineering watch at sea and in
port, including following based on the provisions concerned in the STCW
Code Ch VIII, Section A-VIII/1,A-VIII/2 and B-VIII/2
1. duties associated with taking over a watch and accepting a watch
2. routine duties undertaken during a watch
3. maintenance of the machinery space logs and the significance of the
reading taken
4. duties associated with handing over a watch
Explain standards/ regulations for watch keeping in a national law if any
State the importance, ordinance and arrangements of watch keeping, and
the need to:
1. wear appropriate clothes, safety shoes and a safety helmet;
2. carry a torch lamp;
3. maintain bodily functions;
4. be awake and highly conscious
 Hello there! Welcome to Engine
Watchkeeping (E-Watch) course.
This unit will introduce you to the
various principles to be observed in
an engineering watch at sea and in
port. We will discuss also the duties
and responsibilities of an engine
watchkeeper to keep the safe engine
room watchkeeping.

LESSON 1
Principles to be observed in keeping an Engineering
Watch
 Eighty percent (80 % as per reported by
the researchers) of all the major sea
transport accidents which claimed
thousands of lives and cargoes that
perished by the sea, great financial lost to
the ship owners and the pollution of the sea,
were contributed by human error either by
negligence, lack of training, or by fatigue of
crew who manned the ship.

Getting to Know You

Let us start the semester by knowing each other. Here’s what you need to do:

On the box below, write three things about you (as long as you are comfortable
to share these information with your classmates), one of which is false
If possible, ask the classmates near you to or you may contact at least five (5) of
them in social media, then let them figure out which one is false
Lastly, ask their reasons why did they choose such item
 Three things about me:
1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________

Summarize the responses of your classmates

Name of classmates Which did they think is Why did they choose such
false among the things item?
you have written about
yourself?

Activity 1
Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a71f2zLEfrM

and watch the video clip of Personal Safety in the Engine

Room

Think it over…

If you are finished watching the video, kindly answer the following questions (write
your answer across each question):
1. Based on video, What is a safe voyage?

2. What is considered as the first barrier against

hazard in the engine room?

3. What is the first thing to do upon hearing the fire

alarm in the engine room?

4. What is a Material Safety Data Sheet?

 Your Journey continues….

Principles to be observed in keeping an engineering watch

The term engineering watch means either a person or a group of personnel
comprising the watch or a period of responsibility for an officer during which the
physical presence in machinery spaces of that officer may or may not be required.

The officer in charge of the engineering watch is the chief engineer officer’s
representative and is primarily responsible, at all times, for the safe and efficient
operation and upkeep of machinery affecting the safety of the ship and is
responsible for the inspection, operation and testing, as required, of all machinery
and equipment under the responsibility of the engineering watch.

Watch arrangements
The composition of the engineering watch shall, at all times, be adequate to ensure
the safe operation of all machinery affecting the operation of the ship, in either
automated or manual mode, and be appropriate to the prevailing circumstances
and conditions.

When deciding the composition of the engineering watch, which may include
appropriately qualified ratings, the following criteria, inter alia, shall be taken into
account:

the type of ship and the type and condition of the machinery;
the adequate supervision, at all times, of machinery affecting the safe
operation of the ship;
any special modes of operation dictated by conditions such as weather, ice,
contaminated water, shallow water, emergency conditions, damage
containment or pollution abatement;
the qualifications and experience of the engineering watch;
the safety of life, ship, cargo and port, and protection of the environment;
the observance of international, national and local regulations; and
maintaining the normal operations of the ship.

Taking over the watch

The officer in charge of the engineering watch shall not hand over the watch to the
relieving officer if there is reason to believe that the latter is obviously not capable of
carrying out the watchkeeping duties effectively, in which case the chief engineer
officer shall be notified.
The relieving officer of the engineering watch shall ensure that the members of the
relieving engineering watch are apparently fully capable of performing their duties
effectively.

Prior to taking over the engineering watch, relieving officers shall satisfy themselves
regarding at least the following:

the standing orders and special instructions of the chief engineer officer
relating to the operation of the ship’s systems and machinery;
the nature of all work being performed on machinery and systems, the
personnel involved and potential hazards;
the level and, where applicable, the condition of water or residues in bilges,
ballast tanks, slop tanks, reserve tanks, fresh water tanks, sewage tanks and
any special requirements for use or disposal of the contents thereof;
the condition and level of fuel in the reserve tanks, settling tank, day tank and
other fuel storage facilities;
any special requirements relating to sanitary system disposals;
condition and mode of operation of the various main and auxiliary systems,
including the electrical power distribution system;
where applicable, the condition of monitoring and control console
equipment, and which equipment is being operated manually;
where applicable, the condition and mode of operation of automatic boiler
controls such as flame safeguard control systems, limit control systems,
combustion control systems, fuel-supply control systems and other equipment
related to the operation of steam boilers;
any potentially adverse conditions resulting from bad weather, ice, or
contaminated or shallow water;
any special modes of operation dictated by equipment failure or adverse
ship conditions;
the reports of engine-room ratings relating to their assigned duties;
the availability of fire-fighting appliances; and
the state of completion of the engine-room log.
Reference: https://weh.maritime.edu/stcw/2018/content/principles.html

Routine duties undertaken during a watch

Duties associated with taking over and accepting a watch
enter the machinery space 15 minutes before the change of watch
inspect all operating machinery, noting operational conditions and any
deviations fromthe normal mode
check steam boiler water level
inspect bilge and under floor spaces
note engine telegraph instruction and check engine control position and
related speed
check quantities and levels in various engine room FO and LO tanks.
 ensure that the relieving watch members are capable of performing their
duties
examine the engine-room log book/alarm log
receive an oral report from the engineer officer in charge of the watch
for the period of watchkeeping now completed
enter in the engine-room log any abnormal operational conditions noted
during inspection accept, if satisfied, responsibility for the machinery
space operation check if any alarms have been reposed.
check relevant pumps are running and the back-up pumps are on stand-
by mode.

Routine duties undertaken during a watch

at regular interval: inspect all operational machinery, noting their
operating conditions and correcting any deviations from the normal
mode
operate the oil purifier as necessary
check under piston space drain lines are clear
pay special attention to bilges and any risk of fire.
check the steam generating plant periodically and adjust as necessary:
o check flue gas condition
o exhaust gas inlet and outlet temperature if operating on waste
heat understanding importance of maintaining minimum outlet
temperature
o Observe differential pressure across
o economizer when operating on waste heat.
o temperature of cascade tank to be maintained
check that the main engine cylinder lubrication is within correct range
check the electrical system voltage and load and, if two or more
generators are operating, that the load is properly balanced
check the pressure in compressed air reservoirs, drain condensate and
top up
inspect bilge and under floor spaces and clear them using the bilge
pump and complying with any anti-pollution regulations

state that when serving on an actual ship the watchkeeping routines and
duties would also
include responsibilities related to:
o steering gear
o propeller shaft casing and bearing
o domestic fresh water
o water for sanitary use
Maintenance of the machinery space logs and the significance of the
reading taken
Logbooks are an important part of daily routines carried out onboard ships as they
help in keeping together all important records and parameters for future reference.
Similar to the points discussed in our previous article on entries in bridge log book, it is
important that ship engineers are also liable to maintain a separate Engine Room
Log Book as part of their routine. In this article, we will discuss the important things
that are to be mentioned in the engine room log book.

An engine room logbook is a track record of all ship machinery parameters,

performance, maintenance, and malfunctions. The recorded values and
information are used as a reference, to compare and record data to assess the
ongoing performance of different engine room machinery.

The log book entries are very important during machinery breakdown and
accidents are also taken as reference or evidence by the insurance company,
surveyor etc. for the insurance claim if some accidents take place.

A responsible marine engineer Watchkeeper has to fill the logbook for his/her own
watch period without fail, along with the signatures of all watchkeepers for their
concerned watch timings.

Chief engineer also must countersign this book every day to make sure all the entries
are being filled in it as per the company requirement.

In a manned engine room, during every watch machinery data is recorded

manually taking the reading from the local gauges. It is a common practice that
watchkeeper’s assistant for that particular watch (TME, Oiler etc.) has recorded all-
important machinery local parameters. The entry of these parameters must only be
done by the watch-keeping engineer and not by the assistant.

The following information must be written in a new logbook:

Ship’s name
International Maritime Organization (IMO) number
Call Sign
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) Number
Port of Registry
Engine room team including all engineer officers and ratings
Following entries must be filled in the engine room logbook:

Date and voyage where the ship is heading

The position of the ship (at sea, at port or at anchorage)
Readings and Parameters of Main Propulsion Engine
Readings and Parameters of Auxiliary Engine (Generators)
Readings and Parameters of Other running Machinery
Main engine RPM and Load on the Engine
Speed of the ship in knots
Daily Entry for all the lube oil ROB ( Rest or Remaining onboard)
Daily entry for all grade of Fuel Oil Remaining onboard
Remaining onboard value of Sludge and Bilge
Running Hour Counter for important machinery
Running details of Oil Pollution Prevention Equipment (Time and Position)
Record of any Major Breakdown and reason for the same
Record of Incident or accident in the engine room (Fire, Flooding etc)
Record of grounding, collision and other accidents
Record of Major overhauling of important machinery
Record of all Bunkering operation ( Time, Place and quantity)
Record of all Sludge and garbage disposal operation
Remarks for additional work done in a watch
Remarks for Surveys and PSC inspection
Operation of MARPOL equipment with ship position in Lat and Long
Remarks and entries according to national and international rules and
regulations; measures takes in the interest of sea-worthiness; safety of life at
sea; care of cargo; safety of the vessel and environmental protection
Record the soundings of bilges/empty tanks Every instance of behavior by an
engine room crew inside the engine room, which may result in the dismissal of
that seafarer or other disciplinary measures, including behavior involving
violence, causing danger to any person, criminal damage, alcohol, or the
use, supply, or possession of controlled drugs or the misuse of any prescription
medicine
The presence of stowaway on board
Acts of piracy against the ship or acts of piracy witnessed against another
ship
Interventions by a port state or coastal state affecting the normal operation
of the ship, including detention of the ship for violation of safety or marine
environment protection standards
Any kind of civil claims
Upon the arrival or departure of a vessel from a port, the present quantity of
sludge/ bilge and fuel and lube oil quantity on ship must be recorded
Upon the departure of the vessel from every port, the quantity of fuel and
lube oil received at port must be recorded
During the staying of a vessel in a port, the following must be recorded:
Signature of the concerned watchkeeper
Signature of Chief engineer to make sure all entries are in position
Few things to be kept in mind while entering records/ data in ship’s engine room log
book:

Time format in hours using four digits – 0001 to 2400

All entries must be in readable handwriting and must record all events clearly,
briefly and accurately.
The duration of the voyage over the last 24 hours taking into consideration
the hour change
A ship shall be required to preserve the official logbook for a period of 3 years
after the last entry was made
If a wrong entry has been made, it should be corrected by single strike along
with the signature of the Watchkeeper, who corrected the entry
The log book should be kept in the engine room and should be readily
available for inspection demanded by:
o Company appointed Executive Office/ internal surveyor
o Class surveyor or insurance surveyor
o The port state authority at a port
Under the Maritime regulations, following acts by a ship staff are considered as an
offence:

If a person destroys or mutilates an engine-room logbook or an entry in an

engine-room logbook
If a person renders illegible to make an entry in an engine-room logbook
If a person makes a false or fraudulent entry in, or an omission from, an
engine-room logbook
If a person signs an entry in an engine-room logbook knowing the entry to be
false or fraudulent
Resource : https://www.marineinsight.com/guidelines/different-entries-to-be-made-
in-ships-engine-room-log-book/

Examine Yourself…

Answer the following:

Item #1 Research on the following. List down examples of personal protective

equipment used in the engine room and give short discussion. Write your answer on
the blank columns. (2 points each X 10 items = 20 points).
Answer
A. Body Protection

B. Eye Protection
C. Foot Protection

D. Ear Protection

E. Hand Protection

F. Head Protection