Standing Watch

How do we properly stand a watch while underway on recreational vessels? Some of you might reply "I'm not in the Navy or Coast Guard and I don't stand watches on my personal boat." The U.S. Coast Guard interprets a watch to be activities involving "the direct performance of vessel operations."

The Coast Guard's interpretation is generally in the context of such activities being on a scheduled basis and on a fixed rotation. Even though recreational vessel operators do not maintain a "watch schedule," we certainly cannot abandon the helm without another operator taking that responsibility over.

The U.S. Inland and International Navigation Rules clearly state that the Nav Rules apply to all vessels. From a wave runner to an aircraft carrier, the operator of the vessel must comply with the Rules. Rule 5 states that a "lookout" shall be maintained at all times. 

Being a lookout is only part of the watch stander's responsibility on a recreational vessel. The operator is also responsible for steering, speed control, radio communications, etc. So, we are all standing a watch when we are operating our personal vessels.

Now, back to my original question of how to properly stand a watch underway. Being at the helm, or "on watch," requires more than just sitting there. To illustrate the point, lets assume we are on an overnight offshore trip with three watch standers onboard, on a schedule of "3 hours on" and "6 hours off." Our example will be the 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM watch.

Some of the obvious requirements include being awake and alert. The problems associated with falling asleep should be obvious. However, being alert involves more than just being awake. Reading or listening to headphones can cause you to be unaware of a ship that is on a collision course with your vessel. In this case you could have seen them visually or heard the ship's whistle.

In the event that the visibility deteriorates due to fog or other bad weather, you will need to operate the vessel's radar. In order to do that effectively, you need to be a qualified radar operator. If you are not, you will fail at your obligation to keep a "lookout" at all times, and subject your sleeping shipmates to a collision.

Your visibility can also deteriorate from exposure to lighting that will interfere with your "night vision." Going below to the head or to the refrigerator can impair your vision. Once exposed to white or bright lighting, it can take up to 30 minutes to restore your night vision to where it was before you left the helm. If you need to go below momentarily while on watch, it is wise to have a flashlight with a "red lens" on hand.

Another aspect of proper watch standing is the use of autopilot. Autopilot is intended to save you the trouble of constantly wrestling with the helm and to keep a steady heading. It's not a "relief helmsman" so you can go down below to read a magazine. There have been many accidents due to operators being "over-reliant" on autopilot.

Before you plan your next overnight cruise, think about the qualifications of your watch standers. You'll be glad you did! 

Until next time, I wish you clear skies, fair winds, and calm seas!