How To Keep a Safe Bridge and Navigation Watch

You will learn how to safely navigate a ship as a Deck Officer. You will learn about the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), Region A and B buoyage, when to call the Master and checks you need to conduct to Bridge Equipment.

This online training for Deck Cadets is aligned with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and the UK MCA / Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Level 7 Bridge Watchkeeping unit.

This learning can be used to study and prepare for:

  • Bridge Watchkeeping assessment
  • UK MCA Orals assessment
  • Crew Evaluation System (Navigation) questions
  • Interview preparation.

You can see the contents of this unit below and subscribe here.

  1. When should the Officer of the Watch call the Master?
    1. Power Driven Vessels Lights
    2. Power Driven Vessels Sound Signals
      1. Subscriber Content
    3. Vessels Not Under Command Lights
    4. Vessels not under command Sound Signals
    5. Vessels Engaged in Fishing Lights
    6. Vessels engaged in fishing Sound Signals
    7. Vessels Engaged in Trawling Lights
    8. Vessels engaged in trawling Sound Signals
    9. Sailing Vessels Lights
    10. Sailing Vessel Sound Signals
    11. Pilot Vessel Lights
    12. Pilot Vessel Sound Signals
    13. Vessels Restricted in their Ability to Manoeuvre Lights
    14. Vessel Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre Sound Signals
    15. Vessels Constrained by Draught Lights
    16. Vessels constrained by draught Sound Signals
    17. Vessels at Anchor Lights
    18. Vessels at anchor Sound Signals
    19. Vessels Aground Lights
    20. Vessels Aground Sound Signals
    21. Vessels Towing & Pushing Lights
    22. Vessels Towing & Pushing Sound Signals
    23. Lights and shapes regulations quiz
    24. Lights practice PDF
    25. Steering and Sailing Rules
    26. Lookout
    27. Safe Speed
    28. Risk of Collision
    29. Action to Avoid Collision
    30. Narrow Channels
    31. Traffic Separation Schemes
    32. Sailing Vessels
    33. Overtaking Vessel
    34. Head On Situation
    35. Crossing Situation
    36. Action by a Give Way Vessel
    37. Actions by a Stand On Vessel
    38. Responsibilities Between Vessels
    39. Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
    40. Rule 19 actions with multiple vessels checklist
    41. Buoyage
    42. IALA Maritime Buoyage Systems PDF download
    43. Cardinal Buoys
    44. North Cardinal
    45. East Cardinal Mark
    46. South Cardinal Mark
    47. West Cardinal Mark
    48. How to Pass a Cardinal Mark
    49. IALA Region A Lateral Buoys
    50. Port Hand Lateral Marks
    51. Starboard Hand Lateral Marks
    52. Preferred Channel Marks
    53. Preferred Channel to Port
    54. Preferred Channel to Starboard
    55. Safe Water Mark
    56. Isolated Danger Mark
    57. How to Pass an Isolated Danger Mark
    58. Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy
    59. Special Marks
    60. Region A all buoys by day and night
    61. Region B all buoys by day and night
    62. Buoyage Quiz
    63. Checks to Navigation Equipment
    64. Communications between the Bridge and the Engine Room
    65. Manoeuvring Characteristics and Stopping Distances
    66. Radar plotting
    67. Navigating in Ice
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When should the Officer of the Watch call the Master?

The Officer of the Watch should call the Master:

  • When restricted visibility is expected or encountered
  • When the officer of the watch is concerned about the traffic density, movements or condition of traffic
  • On receiving a distress alert or sighting a distress signal
  • When the position of last observed position and expected position vary greatly
  • If the ship cannot maintain course
  • When land, a navigation mark or soundings are not identified / sighted at the expected time
  • Encountering land or a navigation mark when it is not expected
  • If amendments to the passage plan require immediate approval
  • Loss of engines, propulsion control, steering gear or any essential navigational equipment
  • A malfunction of the GMDSS equipment
  • If there is concern the vessel may become damaged in heavy weather
  • On encountering a hazard to navigation, such as ice
  • If there are concerns around the ship’s security and
  • If the OOW is unsure of any situation and requires the support of the Master.
Navigational bridge of a cruise ship with lookout, pilot, ship's officers

Power Driven Vessels Lights

(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) a masthead light forward;

(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do so;

COLREGS a power driven vessel under 50m as seen from the port, starboard, ahead and astern aspects

(iii) sidelights;

(iv) a sternlight.

COLREGS a power driven vessel probably over 50m as seen from the port, starboard, ahead and astern aspects

(b) An air-cushion vessel when operating in the non-displacement mode shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light.

(c) A WIG craft only when taking off, landing and in flight near the surface shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit a high intensity all-round flashing red light.

(d) (i) A power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights:

(ii) a power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights;

(iii) the masthead light or all-round white light on a power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may be displaced from the fore and aft centreline of the vessel if centreline fitting is not practicable, provided that the sidelights are combined in one lantern which shall be carried on the fore and aft centreline of the vessel or located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the masthead light or the all-round white light.

Power Driven Vessels Sound Signals

In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the signals prescribed in this Rule shall be used as follows:

(a) A power-driven vessel making way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes one prolonged blast.

(b) A power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes two prolonged blasts in succession with an interval of about 2 seconds between them.

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