Watchkeeping

Question 1

Some records kept for the ER

Answer 1

• Engine room Logbook
• Oil Record Book
• Sewage Management book
• Garbage Management book
• C/E Standing Orders
• Movement Book

Question 2

1 hour notice for arrival

Answer 2

• Inform CE
• Record flow meters (FO, FWG)
• Stop FWG
• Stop OWS
• Changeover sewage from ovbd to holding tank
• Close & lock ovbd valves. (BW, GW, Boiler blowdown ovbd v/v.)
• Stop incinerator
• Boiler auto
• Start additional DG
• Change Sea chest suction from lower to upper
• Run both steering gear p/ps
• Check tank levels (FO, LO, Expansion)
• Drain receivers of moisture
• Close WTD
• Test telegraph with bridge and Inform bridge ready for arrival

Question 3

1 hour notice for departure

Answer 3

PPE
Inform chief
Run economiser circ pumps to heat up economiser
Steering gear tests if not done already
Check receivers
Use drain on FO tank
Prepare engines (full procedure including checking bearings LO and stern tube LO)
Open ind cocks, TG, turn on air, close ind cocks
Close WTD

Question 4

Checks on economiser during rounds?

Answer 4

Check position of the 2 safety valves
Check all drain lines (could be rain water or leaking valve depends which line)
Check the manometer (exh gas diff pressure)
Check for discolouration of casing as this could be an indication of economiser fire or exhaust gas leak

Question 5

Engine logbook entries

Answer 5

Date, voyage, position
ME & Aux generator parameters
ME load & RPM, ships speed
Starting & stopping of equipment
Arrivals & departures, preparing & stopping engine
Bunkering
Use of OWS
Change of scrubber mode
Change of ECR condition

Question 6

Taking over UMS watch

Answer 6

• PPE
• Inform bridge you are going down to ER
• Turn on dead man alarm whenever entering ER
• In ECR turn ER to manned
• Check alarm history, ER logbook, any isolated equipment or machinery in LOTO book, night orders.
• Conduct a full round

Question 7

Checks on 2 stroke during rounds

Answer 7

Check sump level
Check parameters (FO, LO, CW, SA, EX, TC)
Check sight glass below crankcase door to see flow and temp of piston return oil

Question 8

Checks on boiler during rounds?

Answer 8

Check both boiler gauge glass
Check flame sight glass
Check alarm panel
Check safety valve is not lifted
Check pressure gauge
Check blowdown v/v is closed
Check drain pipe to bilge

Question 9

Checks on stern tube

Answer 9

Check LO sight glass
Check fwd seal tank
Check for oil leaks
Check circ p/ps

Question 10

Why do we have weighted sounding cocks in the engine room?

Answer 10

Because we are below water level and if there is water ingress then the water will overflow out of the sounding pipe into the ER. Same with oil etc overflowing.

Question 11

Preparation for bad weather

Answer 11

• Secure loose equipment/tools and heavy parts with ratchet straps or rope
• Close hatches, weathertight doors and watertight doors
• Ensure ovbd valves not in use are closed
• Ensure bilge wells are dry
• Tank levels filled to so that they don’t lose suction and to reduce FSE
• Check differential pressure of filters more often
• Start 2nd DG if ME load is reduced

Question 12

Watchkeeping round

Answer 12

PPE, go to ECR 40 mins before watch to inform them that u will be taking a round

*During the round I will be checking for leakages from machinery & equipment as well as any abnormal noises or smells

• Funnel - (white haze with scrubbers)

• Economiser - (manometer for diff pressure, temp in & out), check for safety v/v drain lines passing
• Expansion tanks - level, bubbling, discolouration

• Azipod - Check emergency reservoir oil level, lighting & ventilation, hydraulic oil header tanks, greasing, leakages, bilges, rudder angle indicator, both comms with bridge, check motor temp with back of hand, cooling water temp, cooling fans.

• Boiler - gauge glass levels, oil in water, burner sight glass, steam pressure.
• Hotwell - level, temp & oil in water, chem drum

• Engines -
LO sump level
LO filter diff pressure
Governor oil level
Air start line temp
Check parameters;
514 RPM
LO 4.5 bar 65°
FO 7-8 bar 115° 12/20 cSt
HT 4-4.5 bar 80° in, 87° out
LT 3 bar 40°
TC LO 3 bar
Charge air 2.5 bar 50°
Exhaust temps (~400), TC in/out (~400->270), Economiser in/out (~270->190)
Main bearings 80-87°
Check OMD

• Separators - lighting & ventilation, motor amps, gear case oil level, desludge pipe, back pressure (1.5 bar), abnormal noise or vibration.

• FO service & settling - check level and drain water

• Compressor - Check 1st stage & 2nd stage pressure (7 bar & 30 bar) Dip LO sump if off, check LO pressure + temp, check CW pressure + temp, cooler drains, unloader, check around the coaming for indications of leaks or bursting disc gone, motor amps
• Air receiver - check pressure is 25-30 bar, drain the moisture

• REF/AC - compressor oil level & discharge pressure (8 bar & suction 1.2 bar), condenser liquid level, sight glass for moisture/air, expansion v/v for icing/frosting, evap for icing/frosting

• FWG - vacuum, salinity, SW & HT temperatures, chemical drum
• RO - diff pressure, salinity, alarm panel
• Water treatment - check PH & Chlorine, check chem drum, dosing pump running.

• Sewage treatment - air blowers working, sludge return, chlorine levels adequate

• Bilge wells - level

• Tank levels & soundings

After round when you go to ECR, check alarm history & logbook readings correspond with actual readings.
Talk with duty engineer and conduct handover checklist as per SMS including isolated equipment, CE night orders, bridge orders, maintenance/jobs ongoing, discharging status, running machinery.

Question 13

First things to do when joining a new ship

Answer 13

• Sign the signers on book at the gangway
• Once in cabin look for life jacket and immersion suit
• Familiarise with muster station, roles & alarms
• Give master all certificates & documents
• Safety induction tour - fire lockers, fire escapes, lifeboats, life rafts, fire plan, fire hoses, fire extinguishers, EPIRB & SART location.
• Talk to C/E about roles & responsibilities
• Handover with departing engineer - major overhauls, future overhauls, trends from the past month, meet motorman, spare parts, PMS.

Question 14

Duties of the watchkeeper

Answer 14

Execute bridge order promptly
Regular rounds to be taken
Ensure ME parameters are maintained as normal
All running machinery and equipment are running as normal
Bilge wells dry
No rags & tools left
Take corrective actions & inform CE and/or bridge when necessary