Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)RegulationsMerchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Safe Manning) Regulations, 2021AnnexuresAnnexure 2 : Watchkeeping Arrangements and Principles for Ships other than Fishing VesselsPart 4-2 : Principles to be observed in keeping an engineering watch12. Watch arrangements |
| 54 | The composition of the engineering watch shall, at all times, be adequate to ensure the safe operation of all machinery affecting the operation of the ship, in either automated or manual mode, and be appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. |
| 55 | When deciding the composition of the engineering watch, which may include appropriately qualified ratings, the following criteria, inter alia, shall be taken into account: |
| .1 | The type of ship and the type and condition of the machinery; |
| .2 | the adequate supervision, at all times, of machinery affecting the safe operation of the ship; |
| .3 | any special modes of operation dictated by conditions such as weather, ice, contaminated water, shallow water, emergency conditions, damage containment or pollution abatement; |
| .4 | the qualifications and experience of the engineering watch; |
| .5 | the safety of life, ship, cargo and port, and protection of the environment; |
| .6 | the observance of international, national and local Regulations; and |
| .7 | maintaining the normal operations of the ship. |