| FOM-3.15 |
Fleet Operations Manual Navigation Deck Log Book and Bell Book |
Doc No.: FOM-3.15
Revision: 01 Date: 15 Oct 2024 Issued by: DPA Approved by: MD |
1. APPLICATION
This document applies to Masters and all other Officers onboard fully managed.
2. PURPOSE
The purpose of this document is to specify requirements for entries in the various log books onboard.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 Master
- Include vessel specific, special flag-state or port requirements as applicable in Deck Log Book
- Confirm that all entries are there as per Ch.5 prior signing for the day
- Review and sign:
- Deck Log Book daily
- GMDSS Log Book daily
- Bridge Bell book after watch keeper’s assignment
3.2 Chief Officer
- Review and sign the Deck Log Book daily
3.3 Officer of the watch/duty officer (when in port)
- Make entries into GMDSS Log under instruction from Master
- Sign Bell Book after watch or Bridge assignment & present to Master
4. METHOD OF ENTRIES
- On ships fitted with automatic loggers - Mark the date, time and port on the recorder chart prior to arrival and departure
- Use ink for all entries made in the Deck Logbook, Bridge Bell Book, or on the Course Recorder
- Empty lines are not allowed, and any correction should be such that the original entry is readable
Note:
If an error is made in the Deck Logbook, Bridge Bell Book, or Course Recorder, corrections shall always be made by drawing a single line through the error and writing above or below the incorrect entry. The correction shall be initialled by the officer making it.
Coution:
No erasures shall ever be made in any of the aforementioned documents. Under no circumstances will liquid paper be used.
Warning:
All existing stocks of white correction fluid must be disposed of and it is further prohibited to purchase white correction fluid.
5. DECK LOG BOOK ENTRIES
The following principles must be complied with:
- Shall be used continuously both at sea and in port to record navigational activities and incidents which are of importance to safety of navigation and which must contain sufficient detail to restore a complete record of the voyage
Note:
Particular care must be taken to ensure all entries are neat, correct, and as complete and concise as possible.
- Entries shall be made in English except as otherwise required by national law
- Entries shall include standard meteorological data which must be carefully assessed
- In port, weather notations should be made for substantial phenomena such as storms, strong wind, heavy rain etc. and records kept every four hours as per sea watches
- Shall remain on board indefinitely, stored in a safe but convenient location
- Shall have entries to quantify the Company’s Operation i.e. navigation, cargo- carriage & communication policy compliance
- Shall have entries required to quantify the Port or Industrial specific compliance
- A clear declaration to be made in the Deck Logbook stating the working language of the vessel
6. OFFICIAL LOG BOOK
- Some Flag States require an Official Log Book, which is separate to the Deck Log Book. The contents shall be as prescribed by flag state authorities
- Official and Deck Logbook entries when referring to the same occurrence must be identical / similar wording
7. GMDSS LOG BOOK
7.1 General requirements
- Shall contain the following information
- Summary of communications relating to distress, urgency and safety traffic and the time such communications occurred
- Record of important incidents connected with radio service and the time such incidents occurred
- Record of test and checks performed
- Position of the ship at least once a day
- When a radio watch is discontinued like vessel is in port:
- Date and Time when bridge was unmanned and radio GMDSS watch was ceased e.g. Completion of mooring time
- Date and Time when bridge was manned and radio GMDSS watch resumed e.g. Commencement of Unmooring time
- GMDSS Log Book to be maintained on-board for three years or more if required by the flag of the vessel.
- Records of any difficulties experienced with communications
- Incidents involving unnecessary or inappropriate transmissions with the identities of the stations concerned, if known
- Cancellation of any false alerts.
Table of Examples:
| Date and Time UTC | Station To | Station From | Operators Action or remarks | Frequency, Channel or Satellite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 April 2008 / 0500 Z | All Ship | JAAA | Distress fm JAAA, Posn 05-06N 112- 05 E, Vessel on Fire, reported to Master | F1B / 8414.5 kHz |
| 12 April 2008 / 0510 Z | JNA | JAAA | Sent Jasrep nr 7 | F1B / 12590 kHz |
| 15 April 2008 / 1510 Z | All ship | JABC | Safety Msg no. 253/UT, ‘Log Drifting Area’ received. Plotted on chart | F1B / 2174.5 kHz |
| 15 April 2008 / 1515 Z | All Ship | JABC | Received Safety report for log drifting | Ch 16/06 |
| 15 April 2008 / 1612 Z | All Ship | JMSA | Received Navigational warning NR 10-15 and Wx report | IOR / 303 |
7.2 Required tests
Tests, listed in the front of the GMDSS Log, must be carried out by the designated GMDSS Officer and recorded in the GMDSS Log without fail. See FOM 3.14 GMDSS Tests in a guidance only - Refer to GMDSS Log first
8. BRIDGE BELL BOOK ENTRIES
8.1 General
- Orders to the engine room must be recorded
- Where orders of responses are not recorded automatically by data logger then an entry shall be made in the Bell Book not withstanding "standby engines" and "finished with engines" shall also be recorded in the Bridge Bell Book
- All notations must be made in pen
8.2 Examples of concise notations
- Signals given to the engine room and their corresponding times
- Name of the Pilot or Mooring Master and time of boarding
- Name of each tug and its "alongside," "made fast, " and departure times
- Events of navigational importance such as “passing fishing boat piers”, “dredge ahead,” “moored vessel,” etc
- The vessel’s position when in buoyed channels (e.g. entering/exiting, passing turn buoys, major construction/wharves, etc.)
- Any unusual event such as "anchoring," "approaching fog bank," avoiding traffic," etc.
Note:
In circumstances when the Master is in doubt as to the pilot’s action it should be discussed and a notation made in the bell book - in extreme circumstances where the master overrides the pilot, this shall be recorded.
- Time and position when passing waypoints
- Time and position when changing over from autopilot to hand steering and vice-versa.
- Passing significant land or sea marks
- Hazardous occurrences, accidents and any incidents
- Pilot disembarkation
- Times of berthing and un-berthing
- Where controllable pitch propellers are fitted the times of significant changes of pitch should be recorded if this information is not automatically logged.
- All other information pertinent to the vessel’s movement.
9. REFERENCED FORMS AND CHECKLISTS
No forms or checklists were referenced in this document.
10. APPENDICES
FOM 3.14 GMDSS tests