Safety in the Engine RoomSafety is paramount to any working environment. Working on ships especially in the Engine room where considered a high hazard area, safety procedure must be in placed at all times to prevent any uncontrollable circumstances. Safety procedures and accident prevention measures shall be reviewed periodically and crew motivation and awareness shall be enhanced continuously to adapt the working situation.
Principles to be observed in the Conduct of an Engineering WatchIn the conduct of watch in the engine room the following principles should be observed:
a. The Chief Engineer is the officer in-charge of the engineering watch and is primary responsible at all times for the safe and efficient operation, maintenance and inspection of machinery affecting the safety of the ship, its personnel and the environment.
b. The Chief Engineer representative or the engineer officer’s in charge of the engineering watch when designated must be responsible in lieu of the Chief Engineer’s primary responsibility in an engineering watch.
c. Watch arrangement is adequate and arranged suitable to the prevailing circumstances and in accordance to safety management system.
d. When taking over the watch, the engineer 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 relieving officer is not capable of carrying out watch-keeping duties effectively and in which case the Chief Engineer shall be informed accordingly.
e. The relieving duty engineer shall ensure that the members of the relieving duty personnel are fully capable of performing their duties effectively.
f. Prior taking over of watch, the relieving duty engineer shall satisfy themselves to the engine room conditions relating to safety, operation and maintenance conditions of machinery, standing orders and special instructions, etc.
g. When performing the engineering watch, the designated duty engineer shall ensure that:
i. the established watch-keeping arrangements are maintained;
ii. any machinery not functioning properly, expected to malfunction or requiring special services or attention shall be noted including the action already taken;
iii. the duty engineer at all times is readily capable of operating the propulsion equipment in response to needs for changes in direction or speed;
iv. the duty engineer shall be immediately available and on call to attend the machinery spaces during UMS operation;
v. all bridge orders are promptly executed;
vi. all machinery and equipment which maybe used related to maneuvering is in a state of immediate readiness and that available reserve power is available for steering gear and other requirements when the engine room is put on stand-by condition;
vii. the duty engineer make himself free of any obligatory function other than supervising and assisting the personnel working under his watch, safe and efficient operation and upkeep of machinery and the conduct of adequate rounds in the machinery spaces to prevent any malfunction. He must devote his time during his watch in maintaining the safe and efficient operation of the engine room until he is relieved;
viii. duty engineer must notify the Chief Engineer in any event such as abnormality of critical machineries, emergency stop of the main engine, electric power supply is lost, unusual increase of bilge water, there is order from bridge to change the engine speed, hazards to navigation, injury to personnel, and danger of polluting the sea.
