Difference between official logbook, deck and engine room log book .

Q:-Differentiate between official logbook, deck and engine room log book highlight their salient features and differences ,also enlist the number of documents which are handed over by relieved   C/E during signing off from a  vessel.

ANSWER :

Official log book

As per MSA 1958 official log book

MSA 212-1 An official log shall be kept in the prescribed form in every Indian ship except a home-trade ship of less than two hundred tons gross.(200).

MSA 212-2:-The official log may, at the discretion of the master or owner, be kept distinct from or united with the ordinary ship’s log so that in all cases the spaces in the official log book be duly filled up.

1. Must be kept on every ship unless exempted it is available with engagement and discharge documents from concerned flag state officer.
2. Must be completed in accordance with M.S. act (official log book)
3. Must be kept in one book covering all seamen onboard and remains in force from time of opening crew agreement until closure of crew agreement.
4. It must be delivered on closure to flag state concerned.
5. It must be produced by master if demanded to the superintendent /surveyor, port authorities etc.
6. Each entry must be dated and signed, witnessed in accordance with the regulations and the schedule.

Official log book summery:-

1.  Front cover: Contains ship’s particulars, date and place of opening and closing official log book.
2. Record of seamen employed in the ship.
3. Entries of birth and deaths, deceased seaman’s property, death inquiry.
4. Record of musters, boat drills and fire drills, training of crew, inspection of life saving appliances and fire fighting equipment.
5. Record of test drills and inspections of ship’s steering gear.
6. Record of tests and inspection of pilot hoists.
7. Record of inspection of crew accommodation.
8. Record of inspections carried out in accordance with ILO convention no. 68 of 1946 of supplies of food and water provided for the crew.
9. Load line, depth of loading.
10. Dates of departure from and arrival at each port with draught of water and freeboard.
11. Sailing short handed.
12. Accidents, distress incidents, reasons for not going to assistance.
13. Wage disputes, discharges of crew, crew left behind, property of crew left behind, illnesses and injuries.
14. Code of conduct breaches by crew.

Supplementary Official Logs and Records

1. Official log book (part II passenger ships):-It maintains recording of the opening and closing of water tight doors, closing and opening in hulls and water tight bulkheads.
2. Radio telegraph log :-In includes routine test, particulars of messages transmitted and        received. 
3. Radio telephone log:-It records details of operators, battery condition, battery      charging, messages transmitted and received.
4.  GMDSS log:-It records distress signals, safety traffic communication n the position of the ship at least once a day.
5.  Oil record books ;

Deck log book

1. The deck log book of a ship is an important document that is used to record various data, scenario and situations (including emergency situation and action which is later used for reference, case study and for insurance purpose in case of damage to the ship or loss of ship’s property.

2. The deck log may, at the discretion of the master or owner, can be kept united with the ship’s official log book log so that in all cases the spaces in the official log book be duly filled up. For this reason the log book of a ship should be properly filled without any errors.

3. Following are the entries which must be filled up by the Deck officer during his/her watch:(for reference only)

1. Position of the ship in Latitude and Longitude at different intervals 
2. Time to be noted when Navigation marks are passed
3. Time, details and reason if there is any course alteration
4. d)Condition of weather and changes if any
5. Movement of the ship at sea including rolling, pitching, heaving etc 
6. Details of any abnormal condition
7. Speed of the propulsion engine and speed of the ship in knots
8. If involved in any kind of accidents like stranding, grounding etc. then details for the same
9. Entry to be made if any physical contact with floating object or vessel is made
10. Details of the distress signal received
11. Entry for what kind of assistance is given to the distress signal sender 
12. If salvage operation is performed, complete details to be entered
13. m)If there is an oil spill or other pollution accident, position of the ship, time and complete incident to be recorded
14. Record of general watch routines performed including fire watch
15. Time of arrival and departure and ETA.
16. If berthing or anchoring is planned, time for the same to be noted.

Other entries as required by master, company and administration should also be recorded in the log book without fail.

Engine room log book

1. An engine room log book is a track record of all ship machinery parameters, performance, maintenance, and malfunctions. The recorded values and information are used as a reference, to compare and record data that can be used for insurance claim if some accidents take place.

2. A responsible watch keeping engineer has to fill the log book for his/her own watch period without fail, along with the signature of all watch keepers for their concerned watch timings.

3. Chief engineer also must counter sign this book every day to make sure all the entries are being filled in it as per the company requirement. In this article, we will discuss the important things that are to be mentioned in the engine room log book.

    Following entries must be filled in the engine room Log Book: 

1. Date and voyage where the ship is heading
2. The position of the ship ( at sea, at port or at anchorage) 
3. Readings and Parameters of Main Propulsion Engine
4. Readings and Parameters of Auxiliary Engine (Generators)
5. Readings and Parameters of Other running Machineries
6. Main engine RPM and Load on the Engine .
7. Speed of the ship in knots.
8. Daily Entry for all the lube oil ROB ( Rest or Remaining onboard) 
9. Daily entry for all grade of Fuel Oil Remaining onboard.
10. Remaining onboard value of Sludge and Bilge
11. Running Hour Counter for important machinery
12. Running details of Oil Pollution Prevention Equipment (Time and Position)
13. Record of any Major Breakdown and reason for the same.
14. Record of Incident or accident in the engine room (Fire, Flooding etc) 
15. Record of grounding, collision and other accidents
16. Record of Major overhauling of important machineries
17. Record of all Bunkering operation ( Time, Place and quantity) 
18. Record of all Sludge and garbage disposal operation.
19. Remarks for additional work done in a watch 
20. Remarks for Surveys and PSC inspection.
21. Signature of the concerned watch keeper
22. Signature of Chief engineer to make sure all entries are in position 

Number of documents which are handed over

1. list of status of surveys/certificates, quarterly listings .
2. condition of class stated if any.
3. handing over report.
4. fuel oil/ diesel oil/ lube oil soundings confirm actual figures .
5. voyage requirements for fuel/lubes.
6. oil record book.
7. bunker consumption record and charter party requirements.
8. PMS status of main/auxiliary/ electrical machineries.
9. spares on board. 
10. stores on board .
11. alarm checklist.
12. critical equipment check list.
13. list of precision instruments on board .
14. records of PSC inspection.
15. cargo equipments maintenance records. 
16. NOx technical file.
17. Bunker delivery notes .
18. special tools list.
19. list of manuals / drawings available on board .
20. training records.

Any other documents pertaining to the particular type.