STCW Watchkeeping Duties 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A vessel experiences a main engine failure during a navigational watch. What is the OOW's immediate priority?
- Notify the coast guard
- Assess the vessel's position and risk of grounding or collision (Correct answer)
- Abandon the bridge and go to the engine room
- Deploy the anchor immediately
Correct answer: Assess the vessel's position and risk of grounding or collision
The OOW's immediate priority is to assess the vessel's drift, proximity to hazards, and risk of collision or grounding before taking further action.
Question 2: According to STCW, which record must be maintained by the OOW during a navigational watch?
- Crew personal logs
- The deck logbook or bell book with position fixes and events (Correct answer)
- Engine room temperature logs
- Cargo manifest updates
Correct answer: The deck logbook or bell book with position fixes and events
The OOW is required to maintain accurate records in the deck logbook or bell book, including position fixes, course changes, and significant events.
Question 3: When a pilot boards the vessel, the OOW's responsibility for navigation:
- Transfers entirely to the pilot
- Remains unchanged — the OOW still assists and monitors navigation (Correct answer)
- Is suspended until the pilot disembarks
- Passes to the master only
Correct answer: Remains unchanged — the OOW still assists and monitors navigation
The presence of a pilot does not relieve the OOW of responsibility for navigation; the OOW must continue to monitor the vessel's position and heading.
Question 4: What is the purpose of taking frequent position fixes during a navigational watch in coastal waters?
- To satisfy port authority reporting requirements
- To detect any deviation from the planned track early enough to take corrective action (Correct answer)
- To calibrate the GPS receiver
- To update the weather forecast
Correct answer: To detect any deviation from the planned track early enough to take corrective action
Frequent position fixes allow the OOW to detect track deviation early and take corrective action before the vessel approaches a hazard.
Question 5: Under STCW Chapter VIII, what fitness-for-duty requirement applies to all watchkeepers before assuming duty?
- They must pass a breathalyzer test
- They must be adequately rested and not impaired by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue (Correct answer)
- They must present a signed medical certificate
- They must complete a safety drill
Correct answer: They must be adequately rested and not impaired by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue
STCW Chapter VIII requires all watchkeepers to be adequately rested and free from the influence of alcohol or drugs before assuming any watch duty.
Question 6: When the OOW observes that the vessel's AIS is transmitting incorrect information, the correct action is to:
- Ignore it as AIS is supplementary only
- Correct the AIS data and log the discrepancy (Correct answer)
- Turn off the AIS until the error is identified
- Report the error only at the end of the voyage
Correct answer: Correct the AIS data and log the discrepancy
Incorrect AIS data can mislead other vessels; the OOW must correct the transmitted data and log the discrepancy as soon as possible.
Question 7: What is the maximum blood alcohol concentration (BAC) permitted for watchkeepers under STCW 2010 Manila Amendments?
- 0.05%
- 0.08%
- 0.00%
- 0.04% (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 0.04%
The STCW Manila Amendments set a BAC limit of 0.04% (40mg per 100ml) for persons performing safety duties, including watchkeeping.
STCW Watchkeeping Duties 4
A vessel experiences a main engine failure during a navigational watch.
What is the OOW's immediate priority?