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Change of Watch
The importance of a Proper Watch Change cannot be taken lightly and needs to be discussed by all wheelmen.
Statistic show that vessel incidents often occur during the period shortly after watch change. An inadequate passing of  navigational information, the alertness of the oncoming wheelman plus many other elements can contribute to an unsafe situation in the time immediately after a watch change.
Section 1, Part B of the Vessel Operating Procedures should be reviewed regularly to confirm the elements of a proper watch change.
A Proper Watch Change can be summed up with paragraph 2...(b) of Section 1, Part B....."At each watch change, a conference between the incoming and outgoing wheelhouse personnel will be conducted to discuss current orders, traffic concerns, situations at docks/terminals, safety meeting/drills, incidents, and other items outlined in the crew change check list."
At the change of watch, the items listed in the "Checklist - Watch Change" found in Section 1, Part B, shall be completed by the incoming wheelman. Items on the checklist include:
- Verifying orders
- Special traffic issues
- Advance notice for docks/inspection
- Deck activities
- Injury/first aid issues
- Operation of
- radios/hailer/phone
- radar/swing meter/gps/depth meter
- backup power supplies
- gauges, alarms
- steering pumps
- horn /lights/nav lights
engine room inspection
steering/mechanical problems
The following link is an interesting review completed in 1995 by the National Transportation Safety Board on the collision of two vessels off of Southwest Pass, LA. Their conclusion revealed that improper watch change was the major factor in this incident.
About 2041 on November 6, 1993, the Netherlands Antilles passenger ship NOORDAM and the Maltese bulk carrier MOUNT YMITOS collided in international waters 3.9 miles south of the entrance to the Mississippi River near Southwest Pass, Louisiana. The NOORDAM, carrying 1,730 passengers and crew, was preparing to embark a bar pilot and proceed upriver to the Port of New Orleans. The MOUNT YMITOS was outbound from the Mississippi River, had disembarked its bar pilot, and was heading for open sea.
The entire text and conclusions can be found at this link:
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Houston REC to become Field Office
As many of you are aware, the USCG Houston Regional Exam Center is becoming a field unit for the National Maritime Center. The National Maritime Center, located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, will now process and approve all Coast Guard licensing transactions.
Because of the unknown consequences on this change, please  start your renewal process early. Licenses and MMD's can be renewed up to a year ahead of the expiration date. By requesting a "Deferred Issuance", we can ask for the license to be issued on the original expiration date so time is not lost on the license.
The head of the Houston has told me that the National Maritime Center is taking 6 to 8 weeks to complete and issue a renewal application. He is expecting delays will become greater as the bulk of Houston applications are moved to Martinsburg.
The Houston REC will still receive applications, confirm identification and take finger prints, etc. PLEASE APPLY AT LEAST 4 to 5 MONTHS IN ADVANCE UNTIL WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT THE NEW LEAD TIME WILL BE!!
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RULES of the Road
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND - Risk of collision may exist __________.
a. if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does NOT appreciably change
b. even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a vessel at close range
c. if you observe both sidelights of a vessel ahead for an extended period of time
d. All of the above
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND - "safe speed" is defined as that speed where __________.
a. you can stop within your visibility range
b. you can take proper and effective action to avoid collision
c. you are traveling slower than surrounding vessels
d. no wake comes from your vessel
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND - A vessel showing a green light over a white light in a vertical line above the level of the sidelights is __________.
a. engaged in underwater construction
b. under sail and power
c. a pilot vessel
d. trawling
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND - A vessel being towed at night must show __________.
a. a white all-round light, only
b. sidelights and a stern light
c. a flashing yellow light, only
d. forward and after masthead lights
BONUS QUESTION....Name the bridge in the picture above....
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Maryland Marine Vessel Names
M/V COVE POINT named for historical Maryland lighthouse
There are a number of lighthouses on the coast of Maryland, and you guessed it, one of them is called the Cove Point lighthouse! 
This light was built in 1828 by John Donahoo, who erected a brick conical tower along the plan he had used at several other sites in the Bay. The lighthouse marks Cove Point and the shoal which jutted into the bay.
The original Argand lamps were replaced in 1855 with a fifth-order Fresnel lens; this in turn was upgraded to a fourth-order lens in 1857. A fog bell added in 1837 was moved several times and was mounted on both wood and iron towers before ending up on the roof of a wooden shed built in 1902 to house a foghorn. The foghorn equipment was moved in 1950 to a separate brick building, but the fog bell remains on the shed. Erosion was a significant problem, but was eventually brought under control through a seawall initially constructed in 1892 and upgraded in 1913 and 1993.
The keeper's house was enlarged in 1881 when it was converted to a duplex with housing for two keepers and their families. and again in 1925 when inside kitchens were installed. In 1950 a separate small house was built as home to a third keeper and his family. The keepers remained until 1986 when the light was finally automated. The light was in good condition, with much equipment remaining from prior years, when it was turned over to Calvert County in 2000. Since then it has been administered by the Calvert Marine Museum, which allows access to the light and grounds in the summer months.
Cove Point remains an active aid to navigation and is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.
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| Stern Shots
Congratulations to Capt Toby Peck, new Captain of the M/V DRUM POINT
New Deckhand class aboard M/V DRUM POINT.
Pictured from left...Jason Rawls, Joe Steward, Sergio Rangel, Apollo Edwards, Justin Kelley, Keith Jordan, Bryan Hanson, Wesley Parker, Andrew Parrish
Quitting Time....Katherine Harrison and son Brad heading out at the end of the day at Channelview.
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| Nautical Trivia
"Smelling the Bottom".... Nautical expression which refers to the behavior of a vessel when navigating in shallow water, the effect of which is to reduce her speed and often cause her  to steer off her course or make her slow in answering her helm. Also called feeling the bottom, smelling the ground. The increase of resistance with consequent reduction in speed is largely due to the fact that the restriction on the flow of water and the formation of higher waves. The increase in the velocity of the water flowing past the ship also results in an increase in the bodily settlement of the ship, due to which the vessel may strike the bottom even though her still draft is less than the depth of the water.
From the "International Marine Dictionary" by D. Van Nostrand...copyright 1948 |
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Dates to Remember AUG/SEP 2008
Deckhand Orientation AUG 11 - AUG 15
Tankerman School - Two Rivers AUG 18 - AUG 21
Last Simulator Class for 08 SEP 24 - SEP 26
Pilot to Relief CAPT Prep OCT 29 - OCT 31
Candidates for Simulator training for SEP session, please call or email Diana. This is the last session for 2008.
answers to this weeks RULES OF ROAD....D.B,D,B |
Watch change happens four times a day on every one of our vessels. As we all know, it is easy to become complacent when an everyday task becomes routine. Routine should never become normal in our business when it can easily turn into complacency.
Make every watch change a good one, a safe one.
Sincerely, | |
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GORDIE KEENAN
HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. |
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