Ch03 Standardized procedures

Technical questions What organizations provided seaman with standardized procedures? Why do we have standardized procedures? List the standardized procedures in use on your vessel. List items contained in a set of standing orders. How do night orders differ from standing orders?

M/V Ehime Maru & USS Greeneville M/V Ehime Maru and nine of her crew were sent to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean when the USS Greeneville (SSN 772) erupted from the depths, nearly slicing the small training ship in two.

The structure of standardized procedures Standardized procedures impose consistency so that we will do things the same way, the right way, every time. Such procedures include governmental regulations , checklists, station bills, voyage plans, standing order of captains, and the often dreaded “company rules.”

Checklists, station bills, voyage plans Predeparture or prearrival checklists Cargo-handling preparations Reduced visibility procedures Person overboard evolutions Propulsion or steering failures Avoiding catastrophe, rather than dealing with it.

Pre-departure checklist Deck Complete voyage plan Gangway Prepare contingency plan Pilot ladder rigged Update station bill Rescue boat Tides Deck lights Currents Navigation lights Drafts Flags Calculate squat Cargo-handling gear Weather forecast Line-handling gear tested Pilot arrival time Anchor ready Prepare master-pilot exchange card Shore ties broken Sunrise/sunset Mooring lines ready Wheel-over point Line-handler posted Turn bearings Anchor watch posted

Pre-departure checklist Bridge Electronics Binoculars Radars/ARPA Synchronize clocks Fathometer Gyrocompass GPS Magnetic compass ECDIS Check notice to mariners AIS Flashlights Course recorder Azimuth/bearing circles Speed log Chars corrected and broken out VTS notification Pencils, erasers, dividers Windows clean Clear views/wipers functional

Pre-departure checklist Engineering Communications Rudder clear Announcing system Propeller clear Portable radios Thruster clear VHF-FM radios Phone system checked DSC/GMDSS equipment Propeller tested Flashing light Thruster tested General alarm Whistles

Standing orders and night orders Standing orders include directions on routine watch- standing orders and on dealing with the non-routine. Fix frequency, use of autopilot, log entries etc. Decrease visibility, sighting of unexpected objects, engineering problems When must call the captain for assistance or advice.

Standing orders and night orders Governments law override company rules, company rules override captains rules. Standing orders are always supplemented by night orders.

Discussion Questions Why do you think Greeneville violated so many standardized procedures in a single day? The Exxon Valdez? Think about captain you have sailed with and their standing orders. How were those orders different (or the same) from one captain to another? Have you ever violated a standardized procedure? What were the consequences?