Gard Guidance to Masters

Rate this article:

Table of contents

Gard Guidance Masters

3.9.1.2 EVIDENCE TO BE COLLECTED

A. General information

Date and exact time of the grounding as recorded on the bridge and in the engine room, vessel’s local time and UTC (Co-ordinated Universal Time)

position/location of the grounding

description of the part of the vessel aground

description of the area of the seabed where the grounding took place

courses (chart course, steered course, gyro and magnetic compass) at the time of the grounding

speed, propeller revolutions or propeller pitch of the vessel at the time of the grounding

rudder position at the time of the grounding

any alterations in course and/or speed immediately before the grounding and the exact time of such alteration

any communications including orders given to the engine room

any communications exchanged between the vessel and shore radio stations or traffic control centres

if under pilotage, any communications between the pilot and the vessel’s command including helmsman prior to the grounding

if under pilotage, any communications between the pilot and tugs or shore radio stations or traffic control centres

any compass and/or radar bearings and distances to shore taken and recorded prior to the grounding

any helm or engine manoeuvres before and after the grounding and the times of such manoeuvres

prevailing weather conditions at the time of the grounding (keep any weather records)

prevailing tide and current at the time of the grounding

draught of the vessel at the time of the grounding

depth of water around the vessel

records of soundings of all vessel’s tanks taken prior to and after the grounding

cargo distribution at the time of the grounding and any subsequent changes.

B. Navigation and communication equipment in use at the time of the grounding

Echo sounder and echo sounder trace – description and range used

radars – short description of radar settings and changes to settings with exact times prior to the incident

GPS systems – position recorded after button pressed (if done)

VHF – short description of its location on the bridge and channels operated at the time of the incident, any switches to other channels with exact times prior to the incident

electronic chart display – short description of the chart used and when last updated

any other navigation or communication equipment used to be described as above.

C. Persons involved
Name, rank, duties, whereabouts and contact details of

all persons attending the bridge at the time of the grounding

any lookouts not present on the bridge

any other eye witnesses to the grounding

engine room personnel on duty at the time of the grounding

any pilot on board at the time of the grounding, times of embarkation/disembarkation

other vessels/traffic in the vicinity.

D. Documents to be retained

Deck logbook

bridge bell book or scrap log

engine logbook

engine bell book or scrap log

manoeuvre/course recorder printouts

chart used (paper or electronic) – do not tamper with or erase any marks/data

echo sounder trace printouts

deviation log

weather reports and logs

STCW records of working and rest hours of the Master, officers and crew on duty.

Copies of the above together with copies of other trading documents will be taken by the lawyer or correspondent instructed on behalf of the Company, the Hull and Machinery and/or the P&I insurers.

3.9.1.2 Evidence to be collected