Procedure for Securing Accommodation at Night

Standard practice aboard this vessel provides that when the ship settles down for the night at sea, the weather doors should all be secured. In the event of a major catastrophe such as a collision or explosion with resultant major fire this practice saves valuable time in securing the accommodation when most people will be asleep and slow to react.
　

Responsibility to implement this practice is assigned as follows:

Before darkness sets in and the watch-keeping rating is required exclusively for lookout duties, he shall tour the accommodation areas, securing all the weather doors. He shall report to the OOW at the bridge when all is secured. When handing over the watch at 2000, this task should be already completed.

Thereafter, at each periodic accommodation "safety and security patrol", the patrolling OOW shall check and verify the weather doors remain closed and secured.

Additionally, this practice can serve as a deterrent when in waters frequented by ‘pirates’ (although in practice additional more specific security measures would be introduced in these circumstances).

Any personnel going outside of the accommodation after 2000hrs must return by the same access, and ensure it is re-secured after them. Any person leaving for more than just a few minutes must secure the access behind them upon exit.

These instructions will apply whenever the ship is at sea or at anchor.

N.B. In this context, 'securing' means closing and dogging down the watertight doors. It does not mean fitting the 'securing bolts'. We must retain a capability to access the accommodation from outside, in case of a fire, for example.

To Clarify:

- In normal 'at sea' conditions, the watertight doors shall be shut, without shipping the securing bolts.

- In port, and in 'hostile water', the watertight door shall be shut, with the security bolts in place. I shall indicate in my night orders whenever 'hostile water' conditions should be applied.

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This Bridge Memo is developed through more than 15 years by some very experienced ship's masters.It is mainly based on Capt. Inn Davis's rules from Expedo Ship Management (Canada) Ltd.I collect them only for my personally study reason; and for easy reference purpose.
Here, I, as an officer under some instruction of  Capt Davis, give my full respects and thankful to Capt. Davis.

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2nd Officer
Ever-student from Dalian Maritime University
Be proud of DMU