Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Ship's Log Requirements....

SHIP’S LOGBOOK

HELPFUL HINTS FOR LOG ENTRIES
On domestic voyages you are required to log activities such as drills, maintenance of vessels equipment and servicing/maintenance of lifesaving equipment.
Entries should be carefully made in ink and plain language using accepted nautical terms.
Do not erase, ink over, white-out mistakes or remove pages from logbook. Simply draw a line (---) through the mistake and initial beside it.
Lifesaving maintenance, Drills & Training - 46 CFR 122.702 and 46 CFR 185.720
Weekly maintenance and inspections

(a) Each survival craft and launching appliance must be visually inspected to ensure its readiness for use -46 CFR 122.722 and 46 CFR 185.722
Monthly inspection
(a) Each survival craft, rescue boat and launching appliance on a vessel must be inspected monthly, using the manufacturers instructions to make sure it is complete and in good order -46 CFR 122.520 and 46 CFR 185.520
Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training
The master shall conduct sufficient drills and give sufficient instructions to make sure that all crew members are familiar with their duties during emergencies that necessitate abandoning ship or the recovery of persons who have fallen overboard.
Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training shall be logged or otherwise documented for review by the Coast Guard upon request. The drill entry shall include the following information:
The date of the drill and training; and General description of the drill scenario and training topics.
46 CFR 122.524 and 46 CFR 185.524 - Fire fighting drills and training
The master shall conduct sufficient fire drills to make sure that each crew member is familiar with his or her duties in case of a fire.
Fire fighting drills and training shall be logged or otherwise documented for review by the Coast Guard upon request. The drill entry shall include the following information:
Date of the drill and training; and general description of the drill scenario and training topics.
Signaling Devices (distress) - Flares and Day smokes (correct number and expiration) - 46 CFR 180.68. Stowed in brightly colored, portable watertight container Marked “DISTRESS SIGNALS” - 46 CFR 185.614

If vessel travels it must carry:
Oceans/coastwise/limited coastwise/ Great lakes route
6 Red hand flares
6 Orange day smokes
Lakes, Bays, Sounds/Rivers route
3 Red hand flares
3 Orange day smokes