Correct errors by drawing a single line through the error and inserting personal sign. Close out the page at 2359Z. Begin a new page at  0001Z  each  day.  This  procedure  is  not applicable when visual watch is not set. Sign in when assuming the watch/duty. Sign out when relieved of watch/duty. Enter all traffic, including challenge and reply, exchanging call signs, casualties to personnel and equipment, time zone changes, day shapes, setting or securing visual watch, and any other events pertaining to visual communications. Use  local  time  to  indicate  watches  (00-04, 16-20). Lengthy plain language addresses denoting task organizations may be converted to special task organization  call  signs  before  entry  in  the  visual log. Visual   transmission   abbreviations   are   as follows: FL—Small signal searchlight SL—Large signal searchlight BK—Yardarm blinkers NFL—Infrared directional NBK—Infrared   nondirectional SEM—Semaphore FH—Flaghoist MPL—Multipurpose light Visual Log Entries Visual   log   entries   will   include   the   time   of receipt/delivery  and,  as  applicable  in  the  case  of signals,  the  time  the  signal  is  executed/hauled  down. It will also show the method used, from whom the traffic   was   received,   to   whom   the   traffic   was transmitted,  including  the  originator,  the  action addressee(s), the information addressee(s), and the exempted addressee(s). Even though traffic is not transmitted  to  an  exempted  addressee,  exempted addressee(s) must be recorded in the log. The visual log starts at the beginning of each new day, 0001Z, and ends at 2359Z. The first entry will be “assumed the watch,” and the supervisor signs in. At 2359Z, the day's log is to be closed out and the watch entries continued on the next page. All entries except the watch identification (for example, 00-04, 04-07) are to be made in Greenwich mean time (GMT). The last column in the visual log is used to record visual  numbers.  This  is  a  convenient  method  of accountability.  As  each  message  is  logged,  it  is assigned a visual number. After a message has been internally routed or, if required, relayed, it is finally placed in the visual station file and its number circled in the visual log. No blank lines are to be left between entries in the visual log. The log is to be kept in black or blue ink. Errors must be corrected by drawing a single line through the error and relogging the correct entry. The person making the correction must initial the entry, adjacent to the correction. The visual log must be legible if it is to perform its function as a record. All narrative entries must be logged under the Text/Remarks   column.   Shipboard   events   and evolutions  recorded  in  other  official  records  (for example,  ship's  deck  log)  need  not  be  logged. Corresponding   signals   paralleling   shipboard evolutions must be entered. Figure 8-2 is an example of a page from a visual log. This example is not intended to cover every situation that could arise. If there is any doubt as to whether something should or should not be logged, log it. Supervisors must continually monitor the visual log to ensure that it is correct. As a general rule, the leading Signalman should check the visual log once every  day. Drills and Exercise Log A separate log is maintained for recording visual communications drills and exercises. The format for this log is basically the same as the official log, but the log  must  be  clearly  labeled  "Visual  Communications Drill Log." There are no retention requirements for the drill log. Signals and messages used to begin or end drills are logged in the official log. VISUAL  STATION  FILE The visual station file contains all outgoing and incoming messages handled visually except those signal and service messages that do not contain the prosign BT. It includes either the original copy of unclassified   messages   or   a   filler   for   classified messages.   These   messages/fillers   are   filed   in date-time-group  order. 8-6