Watch system

Main article: Watchstanding

A watch system, watch schedule or watch bill is a method of assigning regular periods of work duty aboard ships and some other areas of employment. A watch system allows the ship's crew to effectively operate the ship 24 hours a day for the duration of long voyages or operations.

Many watch systems incorporate the concept of dogging, whereby one watch is split into two shorter watches so that there is an odd number each day.^[1] Doing so allows crew members to have a different watch schedule each day.^[1] Often the dog watches are set at dinner time to allow the entire crew to be fed in short order.^[1]

Traditional system

A 2-Section Dogged Watch

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
2000–0000	Team 1	Team 2	Team 1
0000–0400	Team 2	Team 1	Team 2
0400–0800	Team 1	Team 2	Team 1
0800–1200	Team 2	Team 1	Team 2
1200-1600	Team 1	Team 2	Team 1
1600–1800	Team 2	Team 1	Team 2
1800–2000	Team 1	Team 2	Team 1

In the traditional Royal Navy watch system, those members of the crew whose work must be done at all times of the day are assigned to one of two divisions: the Starboard or the Port division. These two groups of personnel alternate in working the following watches:

• First watch: 2000 to 0000^[1]
• Middle (Guts) watch: 0000 to 0400^[1]
• Morning watch: 0400 to 0800^[1]
• Forenoon watch: 0800 to 1200^[1]
• Afternoon watch: 1200 to 1600^[1]
• First dog watch: 1600 to 1800^[1]
• Last dog watch: 1800 to 2000^[1]

The Royal Navy traditional submarine three watch system is 2 on 4 off during the day (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and 3 on 6 off during the night (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.).

Traditional system with three sections

A 3-Section Dogged Watch

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
2000–0000	Team 1	Team 2	Team 3
0000–0400	Team 2	Team 3	Team 1
0400–0800	Team 3	Team 1	Team 2
0800–1200	Team 1	Team 2	Team 3
1200–1600	Team 2	Team 3	Team 1
1600–1800	Team 3	Team 1	Team 2
1800–2000	Team 1	Team 2	Team 3

The same arrangement of watch times can also be used with a crew divided into three sections. This give each sailor more time off-duty, sometimes allowing sleeping periods of over seven hours. Names for the three watches—instead of Port and Starboard—vary from ship to ship. Naming schemes such as "Foremast", "Mainmast" and "Mizzen" and "Red", "White" and "Blue" are common.

Five and dime

3 Five-hour Watch Sections

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
2200–0200	Team 1	Team 3	Team 2
0200–0700	Team 2	Team 1	Team 3
0700–1200	Team 3	Team 2	Team 1
1200–1700	Team 1	Team 3	Team 2
1700–2200	Team 2	Team 1	Team 3

The so-called "five-and-dime" arrangement splits the day into five-hour watches, with the exception of a four-hour watch from 22:00 to 02:00.

One-in-Two Watch System

A One-in-Two Watch

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
0000–0700	Team 1	Team 1	Team 1
0700–1200	Team 2	Team 2	Team 2
1200–1700	Team 1	Team 1	Team 1
1700–0000	Team 2	Team 2	Team 2

Some warships now use the one-in-two system, also known as 7's and 5's for the duration of the watches. This gives the sailors a longer sleeping period than the traditional two-watch system, while still maintaining the ability for the ship to function. Meals are generally scheduled around the watch turnovers at 0700, 1200, and 1700; sometimes a light midnight meal is provided for the 0000 turnover.

Swedish system

A 3-Section Swedish Watch

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
0000–0600	Team 1	Team 1	Team 1
0600–1000	Team 2	Team 2	Team 2
1000–1200	Team 1	Team 1	Team 1
1200–1400	Team 3	Team 3	Team 3
1400–1800	Team 2	Team 2	Team 2
1800–2400	Team 3	Team 3	Team 3

Various alternative watch schedules have been devised, which are typically referred to as Swedish watches. Although there is no standard for what constitutes a Swedish watch, the variations all feature some element of extended watches to accommodate longer time off. Like the traditional watch system, they begin at 2000 hours. Some popular variations have durations of 6, 6, 4, 4, 4 and 5, 5, 5, 5, 4.

Merchant ships

Standard merchant watch system

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
0400–0800	Team 1	Team 1	Team 1
0800–1200	Team 2	Team 2	Team 2
1200–1600	Team 3	Team 3	Team 3
1600–2000	Team 1	Team 1	Team 1
2000–0000	Team 2	Team 2	Team 2
0000–0400	Team 3	Team 3	Team 3

On merchant ships, watchstanders typically stand four hours of watch at a time in three sections. This system has a couple of advantages: it is easy to remember and it is consistent. For example, a member of watch team #1 will only have to remember that he is on the "4–8" watch, and knows that he goes on watch at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. This scheme also allows inexperienced watchstanders to only stand watch from 8–12 a.m. and 8–12 p.m., when senior watchstanders are likely to be awake and ready to assist in case of trouble.

See also

Nautical portal

• Ship's bell: using a bell to indicate the time and the start of each watch.
• Watchstanding
• Work shift

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} USNI, 1996:357.

References

• The Bluejackets' Manual (21st ed.). Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute. 1996 [1902]. ISBN 1-55750-050-9. 

External links

• Research study on the 1-in-2 Watch System
• Description of Swedish Watch System
• Marine Technology Society; Oceanic Engineering Society (U.S.) (1984). Conference record. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. http://books.google.com/books?id=C_dVAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 2 October 2011. 
• Max Wood (31 August 2004). Sailing tall: around the world on the square-rigged Passat (1946-1948). Sheridan House, Inc.. pp. 26–. ISBN 978-1-57409-189-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=oR9FVn869jYC&pg=PA26. Retrieved 2 October 2011. 
• George J. Collins; Kathy Alexander (April 2001). Chessie racing: the story of Maryland's entry in the 1997-1998 Whitbread Round the World Race. JHU Press. pp. 53–. ISBN 978-0-8018-6413-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=-Kc8pAxwP0gC&pg=PA53. Retrieved 2 October 2011. 
• Yachting. CBS Magazines. April 1967. http://books.google.com/books?id=M6EjAQAAMAAJ. Retrieved 2 October 2011. 
• International Maritime Economic History Association; Memorial University of Newfoundland. Maritime Studies Research Unit (2007). International journal of maritime history. Maritime Studies Research Unit. http://books.google.com/books?id=M9QJAQAAMAAJ. Retrieved 2 October 2011. 
• Shay, Johnathan, M.D., Ph.D. (Summer 1998) "Ethical Standing for Commander Self-Care: The Need for Sleep" Parameters: 93–105 http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/parameters/Articles/98summer/shay.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-02