Watch-keeping Arrangement in Engine Room
Suitable watchkeeping arrangement shall be employed in the engine room in consultation with company SMS procedures, the master of the ship and the prevailing circumstances as deems Chief engineer judgment may not be impaired that all aspects of safe watchkeeping procedures are in placed keeping in foremost the following objectives; “Safety of Life at Sea, Safe Operation of Ships, Environmental Protection and Security”.
Unmanned Machinery Spaces (UMS) Watch
UMS watch or sometimes called as “MO watches” is being conducted in the engine room capable of maintaining the operation and relevant safety requirements without any personnel involved at certain periods.
The UMS watch must be commenced depending on the Chief Engineer judgment that it is technically practicable in accordance with the “UMS Check List” and that the machinery space has clear of danger and the safe operation is established.UMS watch is conducted on daily basis commonly during night time and should not be more than 24 hours in duration. Checking of machinery parameters and condition should be done at least once in 24 hours period using the form “UMS Checklists”.This is to ensure that the machinery spaces operation and safety procedures are in placed.Designated duty engineer (1/E, 2/E and 3/E) of the day to carry out the UMS watch, must make himself available within the nearest areas or in his cabin to ensure that any alarms relating to machinery spaces during the watch should be properly attended to.
Manned Engine Room Watch
Manned engine room is a common arrangement in an older designed ships wherein the machinery spaces is kept manned in 24 hours to maintain safe operation and prevents any danger to arise. In the modern ships, manned engine room is also being conducted when the ship is in entering/leaving port situation, during heavy weather condition, etc.Designated duty engineer is taking a 4-hourly watch twice in a day and carrying out maintenance works of machinery assigned to him. A rating is also designated to assist the duty engineer in keeping safe operation and maintenance in the engine room.
The watch schedule is as follows:
1st Engineer 04~0800/16~2000 hours
2nd Engineer 00~0400/12~1600 hours
3rd Engineer 08~1200/20~2400 hours
The above schedule is sometimes changed when additional engineer is available onboard and commonly the 1st Engineer is taking charged of the daily jobs or the maintenance works.
In-Port Watch
When the ship is approaching her destination or in the port, the engine room under manned or UMS arrangement should be prepared suitable to the operational demand such as entering/leaving port operation, cargo work operation, etc.Watchkeeping arrangement in the engine room varies depending on the situation and is arranged in accordance with the operational requirements of the machinery.
Commonly when the ship is entering/leaving port, the Chief Engineer is taking charge of the watch and reinforces the watch arrangement in the engine room.
Additional personnel (electrician, cadets, etc.,) are stationed in the engine room to assist in the machinery space operation.
