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I thought we could start a list of things that the Deck Officers and Captains here wish they'd known when they first sailed as Officer, or things we think might help people on that first trip. I'll start us off with a few.
When you make a colregs decision, stick to it and follow it through properly unless its going to put you in danger. Uncertain decisions where you change to port, then to starboard, then to port again will only confuse people.
When you call the Captain for a situation on the bridge that needs his attention, just say calmly 'Please can you come to the bridge', and thats it. Trying to say anything more to someone who you've just woken up at 3am or is half way through a meeting will just confuse them.
Admit your mistakes and be honest, don't try to hide them.
Admit your capabilities and limitations, people will respect you more for that.
Never be afraid to change companies or change ship types. Never have the attitude that you wouldn't sail on this type or that for whatever reasons. Until you've tried it you never know, and a ships are all the same afterall.
When you join a ship, don't compare the operations to your last ship (on my last ship we did this or that), it only annoys people. Implement new ideas surrepticiously over time.
Don't piss off the Engineers, show an interest in what they are doing but don't try to tell them how to do something. Keep them on yourside.
Don't call the engine room immediately after a blackout, the engineers already know and you will only disturb them from dealing with the problem.#
Be open to new ideas and new ways of working, just because your last ship or company or you trained on one style, doesn't mean its the best. You can learn something good from everycompany.
Don't be smart arse and embarrass people above you, you might be right, but it will just give you hassle.
When you take on your responsibilities when you join a ship, keep your eyes open and look at everything objectively. Don't be so familiar that you miss things you need to know.
Read and understand the class, flag and port state survey requirements and regulations. Never let yourself be surprised by something wrong on the ship, and be armed with knowledge, because surveyors and inspectors can be wrong.
If a surveyor or inspector finds something wrong, don't try to hide or explain it, just say you'll resolve it.
Don't limit yourself, and be open to any challenges and exposure available.
When you make a colregs decision, stick to it and follow it through properly unless its going to put you in danger. Uncertain decisions where you change to port, then to starboard, then to port again will only confuse people.
When you call the Captain for a situation on the bridge that needs his attention, just say calmly 'Please can you come to the bridge', and thats it. Trying to say anything more to someone who you've just woken up at 3am or is half way through a meeting will just confuse them.
Admit your mistakes and be honest, don't try to hide them.
Admit your capabilities and limitations, people will respect you more for that.
Never be afraid to change companies or change ship types. Never have the attitude that you wouldn't sail on this type or that for whatever reasons. Until you've tried it you never know, and a ships are all the same afterall.
When you join a ship, don't compare the operations to your last ship (on my last ship we did this or that), it only annoys people. Implement new ideas surrepticiously over time.
Don't piss off the Engineers, show an interest in what they are doing but don't try to tell them how to do something. Keep them on yourside.
Don't call the engine room immediately after a blackout, the engineers already know and you will only disturb them from dealing with the problem.#
Be open to new ideas and new ways of working, just because your last ship or company or you trained on one style, doesn't mean its the best. You can learn something good from everycompany.
Don't be smart arse and embarrass people above you, you might be right, but it will just give you hassle.
When you take on your responsibilities when you join a ship, keep your eyes open and look at everything objectively. Don't be so familiar that you miss things you need to know.
Read and understand the class, flag and port state survey requirements and regulations. Never let yourself be surprised by something wrong on the ship, and be armed with knowledge, because surveyors and inspectors can be wrong.
If a surveyor or inspector finds something wrong, don't try to hide or explain it, just say you'll resolve it.
Don't limit yourself, and be open to any challenges and exposure available.
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