approaching ships can best be seen or heard (normally in the bows). The fog lookouts stand a vigilant watch to detect, either by hearing fog signals or actually sighting, approaching ships or craft. Posting and training of fog lookouts will, as a minimum, meet the requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. This watch will consist of two personnel—one phone talker and one lookout. The addition of the phone talker allows the fog lookout to work without his or her hearing  being  impaired  by  wearing  sound-powered phones. As with other lookouts, the fog lookouts are in contact with the OOD through the bridge phone talker. Helmsman The helmsman is a qualified steersman who steers courses  prescribed  by  the  conning  officer.  The helmsman alternates with other members of the deck watch as directed by the BMOW and as approved by the conning  officer  (who  is  generally  the  OOD  or  the JOOD). The helmsman is normally assigned from the weapons/deck department. Lee Helmsman The lee helmsman who stands watch at the engine order  telegraph  on  the  bridge  rings  up  the  conning officer’s orders to the engine room, making sure all bells are correctly answered. The lee helmsman alternates with other members of the deck watch as directed by the BMOW and as approved by the conning officer. The lee helmsman is normally assigned from the weapons/deck department. After Steering Watch This watch, stationed in after steering, is set when positive steering control must be maintained, such as during general quarters, under way replenishment, and sea  and  anchor  detail.  During  these  evolutions,  a qualified member from the navigation department is assigned as the after steersman along with a member from  the  engineering  department.  This  watch  is responsible for lining up and operating the steering engines according to orders received from the conning officer. During normal under way steaming, this watch is not usually manned, except on board the larger types of vessels (such as CVNs or LHAs). Gangway Watch When required, the gangway watch is posted at the foot of the brow or gangway to perform such duties as directed by the OOD. These duties normally include security of the brow and ceremonial duties. Security Watches and Patrols Security watches and patrols, in addition to those described elsewhere in this chapter, may be assigned at the discretion of the CO. Security watches and patrols are established to increase the physical security of the ship. Sailors assigned to security watches and patrols will be trained and qualified by the department head responsible for the areas to which specific watches and patrols are assigned. Duties of security watches and patrols include but are not limited to the following: Maintaining continuous patrols above decks and below decks Checking classified stowage, including spaces containing classified equipment Being alert for evidence of sabotage, thievery, and fire hazards Checking security of weapons magazines Obtaining periodic sounding of designated tanks and spaces Periodically inspecting damage control closures Sounding and Security Patrol The watch of the sounding and security patrol is regular  and  continuous.  It  is  essential  that  only well-indoctrinated, experienced personnel are assigned this watch. The patrol follows an irregular route while conducting  a  continuous  inspection  of  all  spaces (except those on which a watch is posted or those spaces designated as limited or exclusion areas) to detect and prevent fire hazards, fire, flooding, theft, sabotage, or other irregularities affecting the physical security of the ship. Soundings and results of the inspection will be reported to the OOD and are logged in the ship’s deck 3-6 Student Notes: