The Engineering Log and the Engineers Bell Book are the only legal records compiled by the engineering department. The Engineering Log is a midnight-to-midnight record of the ships engineering department. The Engineers Bell Book is a legal record of any order regarding change in the movement of the propellers.

ENGINEERING LOG.The Engineering Log, NAVSEA 3120/2 (figure 2-1), and the Log Continuation Sheet, NAVSEA 3120/2A, are used to record important daily events and data pertaining to the engineering department and the operation of the engineering plant. A table is pro-vided in the log for recording the hourly average rpm (to the nearest tenth) of all shafts and the resultant speed, in knots. Additional tables and spaces are provided for recording the ships draft and displacement (upon getting underway and anchoring or mooring); the total engine miles steamed for the day and the distance traveled through water; the number of days out of dock; the amount of fuel, water, and lubricating oil on hand, received, and expended; the name of the ship, the date, and the location or route of the ship; and remarks chronicling important events. Entries in the Engineering Log must be made in accordance with instructions given (1) on the log sheet (NAVSEA 3120/2), (2) in chapter 10 of U.S. Navy Regulations, (3) in Naval Ships Technical Manual, chapter 9004, and (4) in directives of the type commander.

Remarks written in the Engineering Log must include (1) boilers in use, (2) engine combination in use, (3) major speed changes (such as 1/3, 2/3, standard, and full), (4) all injuries to personnel occurring within the department, (5) casualties occurring to material under the cognizance of the engineering department, and (6) such other matters as may be specified by competent authority. Each entry must be a complete statement and employ standard phraseology. The type commanders directives contain other specific requirements pertaining to the remarks section of Engineering Logs for ships of the type; the engineer officer must ensure compliance with these directives.

The original Engineering Log, prepared neatly and legibly in ink or pencil, is the legal record. The remarks should be preparedand must be signedby the engineering officer of the watch (EOOW) (underway) or the engineering depart-ment duty officer (in port). No erasures are per-mitted in the log. When a correction is deemed necessary, a single line is drawn through the original entry so that the entry remains legible and the correct entry is inserted in such a manner as to ensure clarity and legibility. Corrections, additions, or changes are made only by the per-son required to sign the log for the watch and are initialed by him on the margin of the page.

The engineer officer verifies the accuracy and completeness of all entries and signs the log daily. The commanding officer approves the log and signs the log on the last calendar day of each month and on the date he relinquishes command. The engineer officer should require that the log sheets be submitted to him in sufficient time to allow him to check and sign them prior to noon of the first day following the date of the log sheet(s).

When the commanding officer (or engineer officer) directs a change or addition to the Engineering Log, the person concerned must comply unless he believes the proposed change or addition to be incorrect; in this event the