TWO WATCH SYSTEM

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Definitions

with the two watch system, either watch can handle a departure or arrival without any changes of system. Example: the starboard watch has the watch, it is 7 a.m. and we are sailing. The starboard watch takes her out and within the starboard watch (which is in two parts) stands 3 hour sea watches, one part in the bridge. The other part on admin lines. The ship sails along, schools run, actions go on happening. First, the whole ship's company is divided in half. One half is called the starboard watch. The other half is called the port watch. These refer to sides of the ship. So the starboard watch berths and musters on the starboard side. The port watch berths and musters on the port side. When one of these has the duty it is of course all over the ship and the other watch is "below" (off duty). This is the way they are stood in harbor. When the ship goes to sea, the duty roster and time does not change. But the watch that happens to be on duty takes her into or out of harbor and at sea stands the bridge and admin watches. This is possible because each of these halves is again divided in half. This gives us starboard watch 1st part, starboard watch 2nd part, port watch 1st part, port watch 2nd part. Thus each of these contains 1/4 of the ship's company. (FO 895)