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Table of contents

Gard Guidance Masters

3.9.3.4 EVIDENCE TO BE COLLECTED

A. General information

  • Date and exact time recorded on the bridge and in the engine room of the incident resulting in the salvage, vessel’s local time and UTC (Co-ordinated Universal Time)
  • position/location of the incident
  • courses (chart course, steered course, gyro and magnetic compass) at the time of or prior to the incident
  • speed, propeller revolutions or propeller pitch of the vessel at the time of or prior to the incident
  • rudder position at the time of or prior to the incident
  • any alteration of course and/or speed immediately before the incident, including the exact time of the alteration
  • any communications including orders given to the engine room (if applicable)
  • any communications exchanged between the vessel and shore radio stations, traffic control centres or other vessels
  • if under pilotage, any communications between the pilot and the vessel’s command including the helmsman prior to the incident
  • if under pilotage, any communications between the pilot and tugs, shore radio stations, traffic control centres or other vessels prior to the incident
  • any compass and/or radar bearings and distances to shore taken and recorded prior to the incident
  • any helm or engine manoeuvres before and after the incident and the times of such manoeuvres
  • prevailing weather conditions at the time of the incident (keep any weather records)
  • prevailing tide and current at the time of the incident
  • draught of the vessel at the time of the incident
  • records of soundings taken prior to and after the incident
  • soundings of all tanks (fuel and water)
  • assessment of damage sustained by the vessel.

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

  • 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, times of switching to other channels prior to the incident
  • electronic chart display – short description of the chart used and when last updated
  • echo sounder and echo sounder trace – description and range used
  • 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 prior to or at the time of the incident
  • any lookouts not present on the bridge
  • any other eye witnesses to the incident
  • engine room personnel on duty prior to or at the time of the incident
  • any pilots attending the vessel prior to or at the time of the incident, times of embarkation/disembarkation
  • any other persons involved
  • other traffic/vessels in the vicinity.

    D. Documents to be retained

  • Chart used (paper or electronic) – do not tamper with or erase any marks/data
  • deck logbook
  • bridge bell book or scrap log
  • engine logbook
  • engine bell book or scrap log
  • manoeuvre/course recorder printouts
  • echo sounder trace
  • deviation log
  • weather reports and logs.