watch system
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.3|A sailor keeps watch aboard .|alt= Watchkeeping or watchstanding is the assignment of sailors to specific roles on a ship to operate it continuously. These assignments, also known at sea as watches, are constantly active as they are considered essential to the safe operation of the vessel and also allow the ship to respond to emergencies and other situations quickly. These watches are divided into work periods to ensure that the roles are always occupied at all times, while those members of the crew who are assigned to work during a watch are known as watchkeepers.
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Types of watches
- Watch systems
- Traditional system
- Traditional system with three sections
- Five and dime
- Six-hour shift
- US submarine system with three sections
- One-in-two watch system
- Swedish system
- Merchant ships
- Ship's bell
- See also
- References
- Sources
- Further reading
thumb|upright=1.3|A sailor keeps watch aboard .|alt= Watchkeeping or watchstanding is the assignment of sailors to specific roles on a ship to operate it continuously. These assignments, also known at sea as watches, are constantly active as they are considered essential to the safe operation of the vessel and also allow the ship to respond to emergencies and other situations quickly. These watches are divided into work periods to ensure that the roles are always occupied at all times, while those members of the crew who are assigned to work during a watch are known as watchkeepers.
On a typical seafaring vessel, be it naval or merchant, personnel "keep a watch" in various locations and duties across the ship, such as the bridge and engine room. Typical bridge watchkeepers include a lookout and a deck officer who is responsible for the safe navigation of the ship; whereas in the engine room, an engine officer ensures that running machinery continues to operate within tolerances.