INDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER III
UG21T5306 Bridge Equipment & Watch keeping Paper –I 45+15=60 Credits-4
Hrs
Section A – Bridge Equipment Hours- 34
SN Specific Learning Objectives Lectures Tutorials
1 Lay out of Bridge and Integrated Bridge: 3 1
1.1 Sketch the layout of the Bridge with its Navigational Equipment 0.5
1.2 Introduction to various Navigational Equipment 1.5
1.3 Introduction to Integrated Bridge Systems. 1
2 Sextant: 1 1
2.1 Sketch and explain the principle of Sextant 0.5
2.2 Explain the parts of a sextant 0.5
3 Magnetic Compass: 3 1
3.1 Explain the magnetism of the earth and magnetic poles, 0.25
3.2 Describe the marking of lubber line and its purpose, 0.25
3.3 Describe the binnacle and arrangement of correcting devices provided 0.5
3.4 List the Compass points and explain True and Magnetic north, Magnetic 0.75
variation and changes in its annual value, Isogonals, Magnetic compass error &
naming convention, Variation & Deviation, Course & Bearing
3.5 Describe the conversion of compass course to true course and vice versa 0.5
using deviation card
3.6 State the importance of comparing of compasses, checking of compass error 0.25
regularly & on major changes of heading, precautions to be observed while
taking compass bearings
3.7 Describe the use and care of magnetic compasses and their practical 0.5
limitations.
4 Tele-motor, Helm Orders and Internal Communications: 2 1
4.1 Demonstrate clear, concise communication and acknowledgement at all 1
times in a seaman like manner with due regards to Standard Marine
Communication Phrases.
4.2 Describe the various methods to call the Master to the bridge. 0.5
4.3 Explain the inter-switching of Follow-up & Non Follow-up and 0.5
Emergency Steering system
5 Speed Log 2 1
5.1 State the difference between ground reference speed and water reference 0.5
speed.
5.2 Explain: Principle, Errors & Limitations of Electro-Magnetic log and 0.75
Doppler speed log.
5.3 Sketch & explain with the help of a Block Diagram how is a ship’s speed
transmitted to remote displays and how an indication of distance run is derived 0.75
from a speed log.
6 Echo Sounder: 4 1
6.1 Describe the basic principles of marine echo-sounding equipment 0.5
6.2 Identifies the main components on a simple block diagram of an echo- 1
sounder, and states the function of each

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SN Specific Learning Objectives Lectures Tutorials
6.3 Describe the accepted value of the velocity of sound in seawater and the 1
limits within which the true value may lie
6.4 Describe the physical factors which affect the velocity sound in seawater 0.5
6.5 Differentiates between range and phase, and explains the dangers of using 1
the wrong phase.
7 Steering control systems 6 2
7.1 Explain the principle of an automatic pilot system 0.5
7.2 Explain the functions of the manual settings 0.5
7.3 Describe the procedures for changeover from automatic to manual steering 0.5
and vice versa
7.4 Explain what is meant by an adaptive automatic pilot and briefly explain 0.5
how it functions
7.5 Describe the course monitor and the off-course alarm 0.5
7.6 Describe the operation of the course recorder log 0.5
7.7 State that the automatic pilot should be included in the steering gear testing 0.5
prior to the ship’s departure
7.8 Explain the regulation regarding the use of the automatic pilot 0.5
7.9 Explain in the recommendation on performance, standards for automatic 0.5
pilots
7.10 Explain the need for regular checking of the automatic pilot to ensure that 0.5
it is steering the correct course
7.11 State that the automatic pilot should be tested manually at least once per 0.25
watch
7.12 Describe the factors to take into account regarding the changeover to 0.5
manual control of steering in order to deal with a potentially hazardous situation
7.13 Explain Wheel House posters and the use of Rate of Turn Indicator (ROTI) 0.25
8 Other Equipment in the Wheel House 4 1
8.1 Describe the Electric telegraph and explain its operation. 1
8.2 Describe the use & care of the Day Light Signalling Lamp and explain the 1
reasons for considering it an emergency source of power.
8.3 Describe Sound Signalling Equipment as in Part-D of IRPCS 1972. 1
8.4 Describe the use, care and precautions while operating wipers & Clean 1
View Screen (CVS)

Section B – Watchkeeping Hours- 26

SN Specific Learning Objectives Lectures Tutorials
1 Keeping a safe navigational watch : 5 2
1.1 Watch-keeping Arrangements in accordance with the situations any 0.5
limitation in
qualifications or fitness of individuals, Individual roles, responsibility and
team roles shall be established, Effective use of the resources available, 0.5
1.2 states that the officer of the watch is responsible for navigating safely, with
particular regard to avoiding collision and stranding 2
1.3 describes the principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch as
set out in section A-VIII of the STCW Code regarding:
. navigation
. navigational equipment
. navigational duties and responsibilities

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SN Specific Learning Objectives Lectures Tutorials
. handing over and taking over the watch
. lookout
. navigation with a pilot embarked
. protection of the marine environment
. Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm system
. blind pilotage technique
. general principles for ship reporting systems and with VTs procedures 2
1.4 describes the recommendation on operational guidance for officers in charge
of a navigational watch contained in chapter VIII, section A-VIII/2 of the
STCW Code:
. maintenance of an efficient lookout
. the use of engines and sound signalling apparatus
. taking over the navigational watch
. periodic checks of navigational equipment
. compliance with SOLAS V/19 regarding the use of the automatic pilot
and the changeover to manual steering and vice versa
. electronic navigational aids
. the use of radar
. navigation in coastal waters
. conduct of the watch in clear weather
. actions to take in restricted visibility
. the circumstances in which the officer of the watch should call the master
. navigation with a pilot embarked
. briefing of watchkeeping personnel
. describes the duties of the officer of the watch while at anchor
. lists the entries which should be made in the logbook.
2 Handing over and taking over watch: 2
2.1 Describe the procedure for handing over and taking over Bridge Watches. 2
3 Bridge manning levels: 3
3.1 Explain the circumstances in which the Officer On Watch (OOW) should 1
call the Master
1.5 The responsibilities of OOW when in-charge of navigational watch and 1
Extra lookout requirement
1.6 Navigation duties with Pilot embarked 1
4 Keeping a safe navigational watch as per Section A-VIII/2 and B-VIII/2 of 3 1
International Standards of Training, Certification & Watch-keeping for
Seafarers, 1978 as amended (STCW Convention):
4.1 Describe the principles to be observed while keeping a safe navigational 3
watch & lookout.
5 Record keeping and Entries in logbook: 3 1
5.8 Explain the importance of recording all relevant information in Logbooks, 1
5.9 monitoring of navigational instruments, recording their performance and
other relevant details, 0.5
5.10 recording all movements & activities related to the navigation of the
ship & voyage records, 0.5
5.11 record keeping of different kinds of logs during ocean passages, coastal
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SN Specific Learning Objectives Lectures Tutorials
navigation & in port as per the company’s ISM/SMS & IMO Guidelines 1
for recording of events related to Navigation Res A. 916 (22)

6 Keeping an effective anchor watch: 2 1

6.1 State the importance of beam bearings, use of Global Position Fixing 1.0
System (GPS) and Radar during anchor watch.
6.2 Explain a Turning Circle in relation to length of vessel and length of cable 0.5
used and the swinging of vessel anchored to tide/wind.
6.3 State the indications of anchor dragging and the use of shapes, lights and 0.5
sound signals as per IRPCS 1972.
7 Pilot embarking & disembarking: 2 1
7.1 Explain the importance of compliance with safe procedures for embarking 2.0
and disembarking of Pilots and Pilot transfer arrangements, as per SOLAS, &
its upkeep.

TEXT BOOKS
1. Bridge Equipment, Charts & Publication Nutshell Series Book 5- Capt. H. Subramaniam
2. Modern electronic Navigation Aids- Bhatia and Sinha
3. Nautical watch Keeping – Capt. H. Subramaniam

RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR REFERENCE:

1. Bridge Procedure Guide - ICS

2. Bridge Team work - Nautical Institute
3. Shipborne Radar and ARPA-- Capt. H. Subramaniam
4. Electronic Navigational Aid-- Sonnenberg
5. Mariners Handbook – HMSO Publication
6. A Seaman's Guide to the RULES OF THE ROAD- Morgans Technical Books Ltd

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 INDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY
SEMESTER V
UG21T5506 Bridge Equipment & Watch keeping Paper -II 45+15=60 Hrs Credits-4

Section A – Bridge Equipment (41 Hrs.)

SN Specific Learning Objectives Lectures Tutorials
1 Radar 9 3

1.1 Fundamental Principles of Radar

● Explain radiation hazards and precautions, safety precautions necessary in the 0.5
vicinity of open equipment, radiation hazard near antennae and open waveguides.
● Describe the characteristics of radar sets: Bearing range accuracy, HBW. VBW, 0.5
pulse length, pulse recurrence rate
1.0
● Sketch Block diagram and explain use of various controls
0.25
● Explain safe distances from radar spares and magnetic compasses
0.75
● Describe maximum & minimum range of radar, range and bearing discrimination
1.0
● Explain external factors affecting radar detection, radar horizon, sub refraction,
super refraction & ducting, effect of precipitation and sea on radar detection
● Explain factors that might cause faulty interpretation: Indirect echoes, side 0.5
echoes, multiple echoes, second ’trace echoes.
● Explain range & bearing accuracy, error in range & bearing 0.5

1.2 Setting Up and Maintaining Displays of Radar and ARPA

1.0
● Describe Setting Up and Maintaining Displays of Radar and ARPA: Function and
adjustment of controls, transmitter controls, reception controls, display controls,
different types of display, performance monitor, measurement of range &
bearing.
0.5
1.3 IMO Marine Radar Standards
● Explain Marine Radar Performance Specifications, Performance standards for
radar equipment, Limitations of the radar X-band and S-band.
1.5
1.4 Radar Plotting
● Plot relative motion triangle and identify various vectors and angles, course,
speed and aspect of other ships in relative and true presentation. Closest point of
approach (CPA) and time to point of approach (TCPA), bow pass, in relative and
true presentation.
1.5 Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA): 0.25
● Demonstrate setting vector lengths based on own vessel speed and range scale in
use. 0.5
● Explain advantages and limitations of use of relative and true vectors and when
to use which for optimum efficiency. The effect of course and speed changes on 0.25
the display.
● Explain advantages of compass stabilization of a relative display, use of Trial
manoeuvre and predictive motion vectors.

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2 Use of Radar in Navigation 3 1
2.1Obtain position fix by radar bearings and ranges, 0.5
2.2Appreciate possible errors and reliability of fix, 0.5
2.3 Explain use of Aids to radar navigation: Use of passive (trails, history) and active 0.5
aids, RACONs and SARTs.
2.4 Explain AIS overlay on radar / ARPA 0.5
2.5 Explain Radar overlay on ECDIS. 0.5
2.6 Describe use of parallel indexing technique in radar navigation: 0.5
3 Gyro Compass: 4 2
3.1 Describe a free gyroscope and its gimbal mountings 0.25
3.2 State that in the absence of disturbing forces the spin axis of a free gyroscope 0.25
maintains its direction in space
4.3 Explain what is meant by gyroscopic inertia and precession 0.25
4.4 Describe the precession resulting from a torque about axes perpendicular to the spin 0.25
axis 0.25
4.5 Explain that friction at gimbal pivots produces torques which give rise to precession 0.25
4.6 State that the rate of precession is proportional to the applied torque
0.5
4.7 State that ‘tilt’ as movement of the spin axis in the vertical plane
0.5
4.8 State that ‘drift’ as the apparent movement of the gyroscope in azimuth resulting from
the earth’s rotation
4.9 Explain how a free gyroscope can be made north-seeking by the use of gravity control 0.5
and describes the resulting oscillations of the axis
Describe the use of damping in azimuth and damping in tilt to cause settling of 0.5
the axis and thus produce a gyrocompass.
4 Ship Security Alert System (SSAS): 1 1
4.1 Describe operation, precaution while using and its limitations 1
5 Magnetic Compass 3 1
5.1 Describe the method of determination and compensation of the effects of a ship’s 1
magnetic field on the magnetic compass. Method of obtaining a table of deviations.
5.2 Explain Heeling error effect and method of correction. Cause sitting of compasses 1
with reference to the proximity of magnetic material and electric appliances.
5.3 Care and maintenance of liquid compass. 1
6 Various Other Navigation – Aids 11 3
6.1 GPS -
● Describe World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) as a terrestrial reference 3
system (geodetic datum) which is used by the GPS satellites for position fixing.
● Explain the basic working principle of GPS, its advantages & limitations, alarm
setting & errors, system configuration, frequencies used, C/A & P/A codes,
basic line measurement, Dilution of Precision (DOP), various DOPs used,
selective availability and its effect on the accuracy of a fix, accuracy of GPS
and how the accuracy can be downgraded, why a fix obtained from the GPS
receiver cannot be plotted directly onto a navigational chart, datum shifts.
6.2 Augmented Satellite systems(DGPS): (0.5Hr) 0.5
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 ● Explain working principle & limitations of Differential GPS (DGPS) system.
6.3 Regional Satellite Navigation systems
● Introduction to RSNS- Explain China’s BeiDou (COMPASS) Navigation
satellite system, India’s Indian Regional Navigational satellite system (IRNSS- 1.5
Navik), Japan’s Quasi-Zenith satellite system (QZSS) and France’s Doppler
Orbitography and Radio Positioning Integrated by satellite (DORIS),
GLONASS, Galileo.
6.4 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
● Describe types & purpose of AIS information exchange, data exchange,
Information displayed on AIS screen, limitations & precautions of AIS during 1
use of AIS for collision avoidance.
6.5 LRIT (Long Range Identification and Tracking)
● Explain purpose of LRIT, Data transmitted by LRIT, authorized receivers/ users
of LRIT.
1
● Compare LRIT and AIS.
6.6 VDR (Voyage Data Recorder)
● Describe concept and purpose of VDR, details & duration of data recorded on 1
VDR, modules of VDR float free Playback Options S-VDR.
6.7 Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) 1
Explain operation, precautions & limitations.
5.12 Introduction to Intelligent Awareness System used for Navigation
2
5.13 The concept of “Digital Twins”
1
Section B – Watchkeeping (19 Hrs.)
1 Performing Safe Navigational Watch as per Section A- VIII/2 and B-VIII/2 of 8 2
International Convention on Standards of Training and Watch keeping for
Seafarers, 1978 as amended (STCW Convention) including the content, application &
intent of COLREGS72:

1.1 Explain principles observed in keeping safe navigational watch. 1

1.2 Explain relieving of duties, procedure of taking over watches. 1
1.3 Explain effective use and testing of all navigational equipment during watch. 1
1.4 List the parameters to be recorded and kept during the watch of the movements 1
and activities relating to the navigation of the ship, Steering the correct course.
1.5 Determine standard compass error is at least once a watch and, when possible, 0.5
after any major alteration of course.
1.6 Compare standard and gyro compasses and repeaters frequently, and
0.5
synchronize with the master compass.
1.7 Describe manual testing of automatic pilot, functioning of navigation and signal
0.5
lights, radio equipment.
1.8 Describe importance of a lookout, blind pilotage techniques in restricted
visibility, navigation with a pilot embarked, VTS procedures, watchkeeping 2.5
procedures at anchor, usefulness of Ship Reporting Systems, and circumstances
in which to call the master.
1.9 Action to be taken on receiving Storm Warning- Read barometer pressure, wind
speed & direction, state of sea, gathering information from weather reports. 1

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2 Bridge Procedures Guide and its Contents: 3 1
2.1 Describe understanding of the principles of safe watchkeeping as detailed in the 3
ICS Bridge Procedures Guide.
3 Watch Keeping at Sea under Different Conditions in Different Area 2 1
3.1 Explain watch keeping in clear weather, in hours of darkness, in coastal and 1
congested waters and in rough weather.
3.2 Describe Ice navigation & Ice patrolling as per SOLAS (SAFETY OF 1
NAVIGATION)
4 Tests as per Safety of Life at Sea(SOLAS), as amended 1
4.1 Describe preparation for proceeding to sea, making port and entering harbours. 1

TEXT BOOKS
1. Bridge Equipment, Charts & Publication Nutshell Series Book 5- Capt. H. Subramaniam
2. Modern electronic Navigation Aids-Bhatia & Sinha
3. Nautical watch Keeping- Capt. H. Subramaniam
4. Ship-borne radar ARPA- Capt. H. Subramaniam

RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR REFERENCE:

1. Bridge Procedure Guide - ICS

2. Bridge Team work - Nautical Institute
3. Watch Keeping Notes – E. Fernandes
4. Electronic Navigation Systems by L. Tetley & D. Calcutt
5. Ship Magnetic Compass- Capt T.K. Joseph & Capt. S S S Rewari

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