Duties of the oow at anchor.

OOW should:

1. Determine & plot the ship's position on the appropriate chart as soon as practicable & at sufficiently frequent intervals check by taking bearings to fixed navigation marks.

2. Ensure that an efficient lookout is maintained.

3. Ensure that an inspection of the vessel is made periodically.

4. Observe weather tidal & sea conditions.

5. Notify the Master & undertake all measures if the ship drags.

6. Ensure that the state of readiness of the main engine & other machinery is in accordance with the Master's instructions.

7. Notify the Master if visibility deteriorates & comply with COLREG-72.

8. Ensure that the ship exhibits the appropriate lights & shapes & that appropriate sound signals are made at all times.

9. Keep constant listening watch on appropriate VHF radio channel.

Procedure:

When a vessel can not proceed to her allocated berth she may anchor either in the open roadstead or in inner harbor. Before the anchoring the watch officer should study carefully the intended anchoring berth and must communicate with the port authorities or traffic service to report about ship’s arrival and specify the time of anchoring and berth location.

Then the watch officer sends the boatswain to prepare the anchor gear. Bosun checks windlass against damage, eases off the chain and screw stoppers, takes off the hawse bucklers and having disconnected the gypsy he checks the work of windlass.

In the approaches to the anchoring berth the watch officer notifies the Master and Chief Engineer, checks communication with the engine room and with the forecastle. He must use a large scale charts.

Procedure of bringing a ship to anchor is effected under supervision of the Master. Before bringing a vessel to anchor her speed must be decreased to slow or dead slow. When the vessel approaches her allocated anchoring berth her engines must be stopped.

An anchor must be let go when the Master orders. The Boatswain deactivates screw terminal and the band brake and he must report how many shackles are paid out. Then the anchor chain becomes fight and the boatswain must use screw terminal and the band brake to secure the anchor chain and fix the red or white flag into the chain to check chain’s slacking. Then the boatswain must display the black ball in daytime or white all-round light at night.

After anchoring the watch officer takes anchorage bearings and soundings and makes corresponding entries into the Log Book.

He plots the ship position on the chart and then the vessel’s position at anchorage must be charted and checked periodically be the watch officer.