Assessment of abilities and skills in navigational watchkeeping
Clasification Society 2023 - Version 9.37

Assessment of abilities and skills in navigational watchkeeping

  11 A candidate for certification who is required to have received special training and assessment of abilities and skills in navigational watchkeeping duties should be required to provide evidence, through demonstration either on a simulator or on board ship as part of an approved programme of shipboard training, that the skills and ability to perform as officer in charge of a navigational watch in at least the following areas have been acquired, namely to:

  • .1 prepare for and conduct a passage, including:

    • .1.1 interpreting and applying information obtained from charts;

    • .1.2 fixing position in coastal waters;

    • .1.3 applying basic information obtained from tide tables and other nautical publications;

    • .1.4 checking and operating bridge equipment;

    • .1.5 checking magnetic and gyro-compasses;

    • .1.6 assessing available meteorological information;

    • .1.7 using celestial bodies to fix position;

    • .1.8 determining the compass error by celestial and terrestrial means; and

    • .1.9 performing calculations for sailings of up to 24 hours;

  • .2 operate and apply information obtained from electronic navigation systems;

  • .3 operate radar, ARPA and ECDIS and apply radar information for navigation and collision avoidance;

  • .4 operate propulsion and steering systems to control heading and speed;

  • .5 implement navigational watch routines and procedures;

  • .6 implement the manoeuvres required for rescue of persons overboard;

  • .7 initiate action to be taken in the event of an imminent emergency situation (e.g., fire, collision, stranding) and action in the immediate aftermath of an emergency;

  • .8 initiate action to be taken in event of malfunction or failure of major items of equipment or plant (e.g., steering gear, power, navigation systems);

  • .9 conduct radiocommunications and visual and sound signalling in normal and emergency situations; and

  • .10 monitor and operate safety and alarm systems, including internal communications.

  12 Assessment of abilities and skills in navigational watchkeeping should:

  • .1 be made against the criteria for evaluating competence for the function of navigation set out in table A-II/1;

  • .2 ensure that the candidate performs navigational watchkeeping duties in accordance with the Principles to be observed in keeping a safe navigational watch (section A-VIII/2, part 4-1) and the Guidance on keeping a navigational watch (section B-VIII/2, part 4-1).

Parent topic: Section B-II/1 Guidance regarding the certification of officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more
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