In the temporary absence of the engineer officer, his
duties may be performed by the engineering department
duty officer. If the engineer officer is on board, the duty
officer reports the condition of the department to him
before the 2000-hour reports. In the absence of the
engineer officer, the duty officer makes the 2000-hour
reports for the department to the XO or CDO.
The engineering department duty officer has the
following responsibilities in addition to other duties that
may be assigned:
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Be sure engineering watch personnel are alert
and perform properly.
Be sure engineering machinery and systems are
operated safely and economically.
Eliminate fire and flooding hazards and prevent
sabotage.
Be sure all engineering spaces are secure. Hold
frequent inspections of engineering spaces to
determine conditions and the performance of
watch personnel.
Be sure all machinery operating logs are
maintained and write and sign the engineering
log for the period he is on duty.
The engineering department duty officer makes
reports in the same manner as the EOOW, but when
acting in place of the engineer officer, he makes the
reports required of that officer. Engineering watch
supervisors and the duty petty officers of the
engineering divisions report to the engineering
department duty officer.
A chief petty officer who is a qualified engine room
watch supervisor underway may be assigned a watch as
the engineering department duty chief petty officer to
help the engineering department officer during his
watch.
Engineering Watches
The engineer officer is responsible for the condition
watch V (in port) organization of the engineering
department. The type and amount of machinery and
equipment used in port is mainly governed by the
services the department is required to furnish.
Regardless of what services are furnished by the
department, certain personnel are required to ensure the
safe and efficient operation of the department when key
personnel are temporarily absent. A responsible petty
officer in the duty section of each engineering division
must be designated to act in the absence of the division
officer and leading petty officers. The division duty
petty officer has the following responsibilities in
addition to other duties that may be assigned:
. Be sure division watch personnel promptly and
properly man assigned watch stations.
. Inspect all spaces for which the division is
responsible. Inspect watch stations and check on the
alertness of the personnel on watch. Make sure
personnel follow proper operating procedures and obey
all orders and instructions that apply. Make sure all
spaces are clean, free of fire and flooding hazards, and
contain no unauthorized persons.
. Muster division personnel and make reports as
required.
The division duty petty officers report to the
engineering department duty officer and call on them
for guidance or help. Generally, the division duty petty
officer reports the condition of his division to the
engineering department duty officer before 2000 each
evening.
Certain engineering department personnel are
required to furnish services or operate equipment
regardless of other services required of the department.
The engineering watches always assigned in port
include the duty oil and water king (B division), the
duty EM (E division), the duty HT (R division), the duty
A-gang (A division), and the duty boat engineer
(qualified personnel of any engineering division).
The engineering department is usually required to
furnish steam, electric power and lighting, and fresh
water or feedwater when the ship is in port. only
auxiliary machinery is needed to supply the required
services, and the necessary watch is referred to as the
auxiliary watch. The auxiliary watch is usually made up
of the following watches and duties.
The security watch regularly inspects idle
machinery spaces and sound voids. The fireroom watch
operates the necessary boiler room machinery. The
engine room watch operates the necessary ships
service generators. The electrical watch operates the
necessary main electrical distribution switchboards,
and the evaporator watch operates the distilling plant as
necessary.
When the ship is receiving fresh water, steam, and
electrical power from the pier or a ship alongside, the
auxiliary watch is replaced with the cold iron watch in
the machinery spaces. The cold iron watch generally is
made up of a security watch stationed in each engine
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