Which checks must be carried out by the Duty Officer before departure?
- Test Bridge - ER telegraph.
- Try out Fog Horns.
- Try out Clear View Screen.
- Try out the Glass Wipers.
- Try out lights of Christmas Tree
- Check Aldis Lamp both on Main Power and Battery.
- Check the light and buzzer alarms for Navigation Light Failure.
- Check the light and buzzer alarm for Bridge Alarm Pannel.
- Try out lights but adjusting brilliance level of indicatory panels such as gyro repeaters, magnetic compass, rudder angle indicator, rpm indicator, indicator panel, chart table etc.
- Try out Emergency Communication System.
- Ensure that the charts for the voyage has been placed ready and the current navigation chart is open and kept on the chart table.
- Compare Gyro compass with that of the Magnetic compass and find the deviation.
- Ensure all Gyro repeaters are synchronized.
- Try out VHF and make sure that channel selected on one VHF is Ch.16 and channel on other VHF is as required by ALRS Vol.6 or Local Pilot Channel.
- Try our both the RADARs (X-Band) and (S-Band) and make sure appropriate Range, Pulse, Anti Sea Clutter, Anti-Rain Clutters, Vectors, Trails, Motion, View etc. has been set as required.
- Echo Sounder is switched on and appropriate range level is selected.
- Check that updated details are fed in AIS.
- Check that the routes have been loaded in ECDIS and if not load the routes in it.
- Appropriate Vector, Scale of Chart, Motion etc. to be selected on ECDIS.
- Check that waypoints have been loaded in GPS.
- Check that INMARSAT-C Printer is switched on and adequate paper is there in the printer. Make sure that the correct satellite and EGC is selected in it.
- Try out the steering system.
- Use two motors one at a time.
- Use two transmission system, trying out each system separately.
- Testing the Rudder Angle Indicator on the bridge. The wheel is turned to various helm angles. The readout of the rudder indicator in the wheelhouse should tally with the angle as seen in the steering flat by the engineer officer.
- The engineer officer will then check the steering system for any hydraulic leaks, malfunctions, theft of vital parts, sabotage etc.
- Report “Controls tested and found satisfactory” to the Master and Chief Officer.
- Make a log entry in the deck log book.
- Check the engines:
- The moorings should be tight – otherwise the ship would surge ahead and possible break loose from its moorings.
- The gangway should be clear of any obstructions.
- No barges, boats or other obstruction should be there near the propeller.
- Try out engines with small forward and aft kicks.
- Check that NAVTEX is switched on and appropriate category of messages to be received is selected.
