Watch system

Watch system

A watch system, watch schedule or watch bill is a method of assigning regular periods of work duty aboard ships and some other areas of employment. A watch system allows the ship's crew to effectively operate the ship 24 hours a day for the duration of long voyages or operations.

Many watch systems incorporate the concept of dogging, whereby one watch is split into two shorter watches so that there is an odd number each day.[1] Doing so allows crew members to have a different watch schedule each day.[1] Often the dog watches are set at dinner time to allow the entire crew to be fed in short order.[1]

Contents

Traditional system

A 2-Section Dogged Watch
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
2000–0000 Team 1 Team 2 Team 1
0000–0400 Team 2 Team 1 Team 2
0400–0800 Team 1 Team 2 Team 1
0800–1200 Team 2 Team 1 Team 2
1200-1600 Team 1 Team 2 Team 1
1600–1800 Team 2 Team 1 Team 2
1800–2000 Team 1 Team 2 Team 1

In the traditional Royal Navy watch system, those members of the crew whose work must be done at all times of the day are assigned to one of two divisions: the Starboard or the Port division. These two groups of personnel alternate in working the following watches:

  • First watch: 2000 to 0000[1]
  • Middle (Guts) watch: 0000 to 0400[1]
  • Morning watch: 0400 to 0800[1]
  • Forenoon watch: 0800 to 1200[1]
  • Afternoon watch: 1200 to 1600[1]
  • First dog watch: 1600 to 1800[1]
  • Last dog watch: 1800 to 2000[1]

The Royal Navy traditional submarine three watch system is 2 on 4 off during the day (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and 3 on 6 off during the night (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.).

Traditional system with three sections

A 3-Section Dogged Watch
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
2000–0000 Team 1 Team 2 Team 3
0000–0400 Team 2 Team 3 Team 1
0400–0800 Team 3 Team 1 Team 2
0800–1200 Team 1 Team 2 Team 3
1200–1600 Team 2 Team 3 Team 1
1600–1800 Team 3 Team 1 Team 2
1800–2000 Team 1 Team 2 Team 3

The same arrangement of watch times can also be used with a crew divided into three sections. This give each sailor more time off-duty, sometimes allowing sleeping periods of over seven hours. Names for the three watches—instead of Port and Starboard—vary from ship to ship. Naming schemes such as "Foremast", "Mainmast" and "Mizzen" and "Red", "White" and "Blue" are common.

Five and dime

3 Five-hour Watch Sections
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
2200–0200 Team 1 Team 3 Team 2
0200–0700 Team 2 Team 1 Team 3
0700–1200 Team 3 Team 2 Team 1
1200–1700 Team 1 Team 3 Team 2
1700–2200 Team 2 Team 1 Team 3

The so-called "five-and-dime" arrangement splits the day into five-hour watches, with the exception of a four-hour watch from 22:00 to 02:00.

One-in-Two Watch System

A One-in-Two Watch
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
0000–0700 Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
0700–1200 Team 2 Team 2 Team 2
1200–1700 Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
1700–0000 Team 2 Team 2 Team 2

Some warships now use the one-in-two system, also known as 7's and 5's for the duration of the watches. This gives the sailors a longer sleeping period than the traditional two-watch system, while still maintaining the ability for the ship to function. Meals are generally scheduled around the watch turnovers at 0700, 1200, and 1700; sometimes a light midnight meal is provided for the 0000 turnover.

Swedish system

A 3-Section Swedish Watch
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
0000–0600 Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
0600–1000 Team 2 Team 2 Team 2
1000–1200 Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
1200–1400 Team 3 Team 3 Team 3
1400–1800 Team 2 Team 2 Team 2
1800–2400 Team 3 Team 3 Team 3

Various alternative watch schedules have been devised, which are typically referred to as Swedish watches. Although there is no standard for what constitutes a Swedish watch, the variations all feature some element of extended watches to accommodate longer time off. Like the traditional watch system, they begin at 2000 hours. Some popular variations have durations of 6, 6, 4, 4, 4 and 5, 5, 5, 5, 4.


Merchant ships

Standard merchant watch system
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
0400–0800 Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
0800–1200 Team 2 Team 2 Team 2
1200–1600 Team 3 Team 3 Team 3
1600–2000 Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
2000–0000 Team 2 Team 2 Team 2
0000–0400 Team 3 Team 3 Team 3

On merchant ships, watchstanders typically stand four hours of watch at a time in three sections. This system has a couple of advantages: it is easy to remember and it is consistent. For example, a member of watch team #1 will only have to remember that he is on the "4–8" watch, and knows that he goes on watch at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. This scheme also allows inexperienced watchstanders to only stand watch from 8–12 a.m. and 8–12 p.m., when senior watchstanders are likely to be awake and ready to assist in case of trouble.


See also

Yacht foresail.svg Nautical portal

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j USNI, 1996:357.

References

External links


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