Excerpts From J. Bruce Ismay’s Copy of
International Mercantile Marine Company
Ships’ Rules and Uniform Regulations
Issued July 1st, 1907
Opposite Art. 17 -- Watches
Sea Watches. Regular sea watches must be kept from the time the ship leaves the port of departure until she reaches the port of arrival. The watches are to be equally divided and the ship is never to be left without an Officer in charge of the bridge. When the Officer of the watch believes the ship to be running into danger it is his duty to act at once on his own responsibility, at the same time he is immediately to pass the word for the Commander. The Chief, First and Second Officers are never to give up charge of the bridge during their respective watches unless with the express permission of the Commander. When the watch is relieved the Officer in charge of the watch going off duty is to be responsible that the correct course is passed with the helmsman relieving. This should be done in the presence of the Officer relieving, who is to satisfy himself that it is being steered. The three Seniors are the Bridge Officers, and divide the time into three watches of four hours’ duration, each will have four hours on the bridge in charge of the ship, followed by eight hours below. The Junior Officers, when five or more Officers are borne, will keep watch and watch with the seamen, the Third Officer having charge of the port watch, and the Fourth Officer the starboard watch. under the direction of the Senior Officer on watch. They are also to go the rounds every hour during watch on deck, reporting having carried this out to the Senior Officer on watch.
Senior Officer’s Watches: --
Chief Officer -- 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Second Officer -- 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
First Officer -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The First officer relieving for Breakfast
The Second Officer relieving for Lunch
No Dinner relief needed.
Junior Officers’ Watches: --
Midnight to 4 a.m. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
4 a.m. to 8 a.m. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
8 a.m. to Noon 8 p.m. to Midnight
Noon to 4 p.m.
Junior Officers are not to have charge of a watch at sea except during daylight in fine weather at the discretion of the Commander.
116. Time To Be Kept.-- Seventy-fifth meridian time must be used for time of arrival at and departure from Sandy Hook Lightship, Five Fathom Bank Lightship, and other points of arrival and departure in the United States and Canada. Greenwich Mean Time must be used in Abstract Logs after the English or Irish land is made. When passing points and ships at sea, either eastbound or westbound, Greenwich Mean Time, as well as ship’s time, must be used.
Officer Of The Watch
251. Station. -- At sea the station of the Officer of the Watch is on the Bridge which he must on no account leave, either night or day, without being relieved.
(e) He must call the Commander at once if it becomes foggy, hazy, if he does not think he can see a safe distance, or if in doubt about anything.
253. Steering and Compasses.-- He must pay particular attention to the steering and the course the ship makes. He must steady the ship on her course by standard every half-hour, and must compare the compasses every Watch, the comparisons to be entered in the Compass Comparison Book for reference. He will also ascertain the deviation as often as possible.
259. Ship’s Time.-- The Officer of the Watch will see that the ship’s time is changed between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the clocks to be set for Noon before 6 a.m. The Engine Room Clock must at all times agree with the Clock in the Wheelhouse, and must be corrected accordingly.
First Or Senior Second Officer
302. Charge of Navigating Instruments.-- Unless the Commander otherwise decides, he will take general charge of the navigating instruments of the ship, including chronometers, compasses, charts, clocks, etc.
303. Winding Chronometers.-- Unless the Commander otherwise decides, he will wind and compare chronometers at 8 a.m. each day, and keep a Chronometer Comparison Book. He will also see that the clocks are wound.
Junior Officers
371. Duties.-- (a) The Junior Officers should exert themselves to afford every assistance in the navigation of the ship by perfecting themselves in the practice of solar and stellar observations, both for the correction of the compass and for ascertaining the position of the ship.
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