As a watchstander, you will be the eyes of the engineering department. You will be responsible for the orderly appearance and cleanliness of your assigned station. Prior to standing watch, you should thoroughly inspect all existing conditions, such as the operating condition of machinery and firefighting equipment. You should also check your assigned area for leaks and potential fire hazards. If a casualty occurs, you should take immediate steps to control it, as well as promptly notify the proper authority. Except in emergencies, the engineroom auxiliary watch does not make any changes such as stopping, starting, or shifting ships service generators without first notifying the Electricians Mate and the petty officer in charge of the watch. A watch going off duty will not be considered relieved until the floor plates are wiped, the engineroom is clean, all operating logs and records are correct, and information concerning the status of the machinery in operation, orders, special orders, and non-completed orders have been given to the relief.

While on watch, you should strictly observe all operating instructions, regulations, and safety precautions. You should never leave your station unless you have permission from proper authority to do so, or are properly relieved. You should promptly execute all standing or special orders. When relieved, you should pass on to the relieving watch all information concerning existing conditions and special orders.

There are several watches that you may stand or for which you may be responsible. The stations and duties of some of the watches commonly stood by Enginemen are discussed in the following paragraphs.

COLD-IRON WATCHES.Under certain prescribed conditions (such as when a ship moves alongside a repair ship or tender, or into a naval shipyard, and is receiving power from these activities) a security and fire watch is usually set by each division. This security watch is commonly known as a cold-iron watch. Each cold-iron watch makes frequent inspections of the assigned area and checks for fire hazards, flooding, or other unusual conditions throughout the area. The cold-iron watch keeps bilges reasonably free of water in accordance with applicable instructions. Hourly reports on existing conditions are made to the officer of the deck.

ENGINEROOM AUXILIARY WATCH. Auxiliary watches are maintained underway and in port to supply light, power, steam, and other services. The engineroom auxiliary watch main-tained in port includes a petty officer in charge and one or more Firemen. The petty officer in charge is responsible for seeing that an efficient and economical watch is being stood. All machinery not in operation must be checked to see that it has been properly secured.

All unusual conditions are immediately reported to the officer of the deck and to the engineering duty officer, so that the proper division or department can be notified to take the necessary corrective measures. When welding or burning is to be performed in the area, the cold-iron watch checks to see that a fire watch is stationed.

The petty officer in charge of the auxiliary watch is responsible for the proper operation of the ships service generator and associated machinery; however, the operation of the electrical equipment is the responsibility of an Electricians Mate. The petty officer in charge checks to see that all operating machinery is lubricated as prescribed by the operating instructions. He/she makes sure that the fire and flushing pumps are inspected for satisfactory operation If the ship is in drydock, the watch must check all sea valves, after working hours, to see that the valves are secured or blanked off. The watch must make sure that oil or water is not being pumped into the drydock and that weights such as fuel oil, feedwater, or potable water are not shifted without permission of the engineer officer.