Question 54 CEL01 - Chief Engineer - Limited

As a chief engineer, which of the following instructions would be most appropriately entered into the Chief Engineer's night orders due to the non-routine nature of the instruction?

A The officer in charge of the engineering watch shall notify the chief engineer without delay when No.2 SSDG repairs are complete and the generator has been prepared for testing.
B All discharges, transfers, or disposal of bilge water must be logged in the oil record book by the officer in charge of the operation.
C When the engine room is in the periodic unmanned condition, the duty engineer shall be immediately available and on call to attend the machinery spaces.
D The officer in charge of the engineering watch shall notify the chief engineer without delay when a malfunction occurs which may be such as to endanger the safe operation of the ship.
AI Explanation

The Correct Answer is A. **Explanation for A (Correct Option):** Option A describes an action related to a specific, ongoing maintenance task (repairs to No.2 SSDG – Ship Service Diesel Generator). Instructions regarding the completion and testing of major, non-routine repairs are highly appropriate for inclusion in the Chief Engineer's night orders because: 1. **Non-Routine Nature:** The repair and subsequent testing of a main piece of auxiliary machinery like an SSDG is an abnormal, specific event, not a standard daily operational procedure. 2. **Need for Specific Reporting:** The Chief Engineer needs to be specifically alerted when this particular task reaches a critical milestone (ready for testing) to supervise the commissioning or to update operational readiness plans. 3. **Purpose of Night Orders:** Night orders are designed to communicate specific instructions, deviations from routine, planned activities, or tasks requiring notification to the Chief Engineer during the hours they are off watch. **Explanation for Incorrect Options:** **B) All discharges, transfers, or disposal of bilge water must be logged in the oil record book by the officer in charge of the operation.** This instruction is a standing regulatory requirement (MARPOL/STCW) and a fundamental, routine duty of the engineering watch. It is part of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) or standing orders and does not need to be reiterated in the non-routine Chief Engineer’s night orders unless a specific, non-routine discharge is planned for that night. As written, it describes a permanent standard duty. **C) When the engine room is in the periodic unmanned condition, the duty engineer shall be immediately available and on call to attend the machinery spaces.** This is a core standing order related to the safe operation of an periodically unmanned machinery space (UMS). It is a constant requirement defined by regulatory framework and the ship’s safety management system (SMS). It is a routine condition, not a non-routine instruction appropriate for specific nightly orders. **D) The officer in charge of the engineering watch shall notify the chief engineer without delay when a malfunction occurs which may be such as to endanger the safe operation of the ship.** This instruction covers essential safety and emergency reporting protocols. It is a critical standing order—a fundamental requirement that applies 24/7/365. The obligation to report emergencies or situations that threaten the ship's safety is routine and should be covered in the standing orders, not singled out as a non-routine entry in the night orders.

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