LEGAL RECORDS
The Engineering Log, NAVSEA 3120/2, and the
Engineer’s Bell Book, NAVSEA 3120/1, are legal
records of the engineering department. Completed
Engineering Log and Engineer’s Bell Book sheets are
kept on board as permanent records. However, they
may be released when requested by a Navy court or
board, or the Department of the Navy. If it is necessary
for any part of these records to be removed from the
ship, a photostatic copy of the material to be removed is
prepared for the ship’s files and certified as a true copy
by the engineer officer. Completed Engineering Log
and Engineer’s Bell Book sheets may be destroyed 3
years after the date of the last entries. When a ship is
stricken from the list of naval ships, its current
Engineering Log and Engineer’s Bell Book sheets are
forwarded to the nearest naval records management
center. Sheets less than 3 years old are kept on board
when a ship is placed in an inactive status.
ENGINEERING LOG
The Engineering Log, NAVSEA 3120/2 (fig. 2-1),
together with the log continuation sheet, is a complete
daily record by watches. It is a record of important
events and data pertaining to the engineering department
and the ship’s propulsion plant. The log must show the
average hourly rpm (to the nearest tenth) for all shafts;
the speed in knots; the total engine miles steamed for the
day; all major speed changes; draft and displacement
upon getting underway and anchoring; fuel, water, and
lubricating oil on hand, received, and expended; the
disposition of the engines, boilers, and principal
auxiliaries and any changes in their disposition; any
injuries to engineering department personnel; any
casualties to machinery, equipment, or material; and
such other matters specified by competent authority.
Entries in the Engineering Log are made according
to instructions (1) on the log sheet, (2) in chapter 090 of
the Naval Ships Technical Manual (NSTM), and (3) in
directives issued by the type commander. Each entry
must be a complete statement and employ standard
phraseology. The type commander’s directives contain
other requirements pertaining to the Remarks section of
Engineering Logs for ships of the type; the engineer
officer must ensure compliance with these directives.
The original Engineering Log, prepared neatly and
legibly in ink or pencil, is the legal record. The remarks
should by prepared and must be signed by the
engineering officer of the watch (EOOW) underway or
the engineering duty officer in-port, whichever applies.
The log may NOT contain erasures. When a correction
is necessary, a single line is drawn through the original
entry so the entry remains legible. The correct entry is
inserted in a reamer as to ensure clarity and legibility.
Only the person required to sign the log for the watch
may make corrections, additions, or changes. He must
then initial the change in the margin of the page.
The engineer officer verifies the accuracy and
completeness of all entries and signs the log daily. The
commanding officer approves the log and signs it on the
last calendar day of each month and on the date he
relinquishes command. The engineer officer should
require that the log sheets be submitted to him in time
to be checked and signed before noon of the first day
following the date of the log sheet(s). The completed
pages are filed in a post-type binder and are numbered
consecutively. They begin with the first day of each
calendar year and go through the last day of the calendar
year.
When the commanding officer (or engineer officer)
directs a change or addition to the Engineering Log, the
person concerned must comply unless he believes the
proposed change or addition is incorrect. In that event,
the commanding officer (or engineer officer) enters such
remarks over his signature as he believes are
appropriate. After the log has been signed by the
commanding officer, it may not be changed without his
permission or direction.
ENGINEER’S BELL BOOK
The Engineer’s Bell Book, NAVSEA 3120/1 (fig.
2-2), is a record of all bells, signals, and other orders
received by the throttleman regarding movement of the
ship’s propellers. Entries are made in the Bell Book by
the throttleman as soon as an order is received. The
assistant usually makes the entries when the ship is
entering or leaving port, or engaging in any maneuver
that may involve frequent speed changes. This allows
the throttleman to devote his attention to answering the
signals.
The Bell Book is maintained in the following
manner:
1. A separate bell sheet is used for each shaft each
day, except where more than one shaft is controlled by
the same throttle station. In that case, the same bell sheet
is used to record the orders for all shafts controlled by
the station. All sheets for the same date are filed together
as a single record.
2. The time of receipt of the order is recorded in
column 1 (fig. 2-2).
3. The order received is recorded in column 2.
Minor speed changes are recorded by entering the
2-2
