5-3
Communicating with other departments
in the ship
Activating alarms
You may be familiar with some of this equipment.
Only the equipment that is important to the POOW will
be described.
Internal Communications
At times during your POOW duties, you will be
required to communicate with personnel in various parts
of your ship. You should have a working knowledge of
the mass communication (MC) systems—sound-
powered telephones, voice tubes, pneumatic tubes, and
ship's service telephones. For more information on
internal communication equipment, refer to Basic
Military Requirements, NAVEDTRA 12018.
Logs, Records, and Reports
As you stand petty officer of the watch, you will be
required to maintain various logs, records, and reports.
If your ship is in port, you may have to maintain a
weather log. The equipment you will use to take weather
readings will be covered later in this chapter. In this
section you will be looking at the ship's deck log and
also at several other logs, records, and reports.
SHIP’S DECK LOG.—Probably the most
important log you will be maintaining is the ship's deck
log. The basic requirements for maintaining the ship's
deck log are contained in U.S. Navy Regulations and
Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S.
Navy. A more detailed explanation can be found in
OPNAVINST 3100.7. The ship's deck log is a complete
daily record, by watches, of every circumstance and
occurrence of importance or interest about the crew and
the operation and safety of the ship.
A ship's deck log has both historical importance and
legal standing. It may be used at times in naval,
admiralty, and civil courts. In an incident involving the
ship, the log may be the only available evidence upon
which to base a legal decision. At sea the quartermaster
of the watch keeps the ship’s deck log. In port,
chronological entries are made, but these entries are
made by the POOW.
Entries in the ship's deck log should be handwritten
with a black ballpoint pen or typewritten. Entries must
be neat and legible. Use only standard Navy
phraseology. Because the log may be used as evidence in
legal proceeding, erasures are not permitted. If you make
a mistake, draw a single line through the original entry
(so that it remains legible), insert the correct entry, and
place your initials in the left margin. The log is signed at
the end of each watch by the OOD. The name of the
officer of the deck also must be printed beneath the
signature. Facsimile signatures are not acceptable.
Figure 5-1 is an example of a deck log sheet.
In keeping the log, remember two important points:
(1) All entries must be clear, concise, and accurate; and
(2) every entry must be preceded by the time of its
occurrence or when the information becomes known.
In some instances, the OOD will tell you what to
note and when; but normally you are expected to make
proper, standard entries on your own without being told.
If you are in doubt as to whether or not an entry should
be made, check with the OOD. The overall responsibility
for the deck log belongs to the OOD. OODs must sign
the deck log at the end of their watch to show relief of
the watch and validity of entries. The following are a few
of the entries that are always recorded:
1.
Convening of courts-martial or fact-finding
bodies
2.
Inspections held, including administrative,
material, personnel, lower deck, and
magazine inspections
3.
Injuries, accidents, and casualties
4.
Official visits
5.
Salutes fired and flags displayed
6.
Arrivals and departures of the commanding
officer and executive officer and, if on board,
flag officers and civil officials
7.
Drills held
8.
Observance of sunrise and sunset
