Who is the OOW?

Only if I can revalidate — and the arithmetic says I can't do it on sea service alone: revalidation needs 12 months' service in the last 5 years or 3 months in the last 6, and three years ashore has hollowed that out. The routes back: an MCA-approved refresher/revalidation route, or accumulating the qualifying service in a supernumerary or lower capacity first. What I never do is sail on it quietly and hope — an out-of-date certificate breaks the safe manning document, the ISM compliance and potentially the insurance of the vessel, which makes it the master's and the company's problem the moment I step aboard.

To maintain a safe navigational watch at sea, at anchor and in port. The OOW is the Master's representative and is primarily responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel and compliance with the COLREGS at all times.

Yes — until the Master explicitly communicates that he is assuming the con, and this is mutually understood between us. His presence alone does not transfer responsibility. I continue to be responsible until that handover is clear and unambiguous.

Comply with the COLREGS immediately. Call the Master. Advise the engine room — engines to standby. Post a dedicated lookout. Switch to hand steering. Reduce to safe speed (Rule 6). Sound fog signals (Rule 35). Operate radar on appropriate range. Navigate lights on. Close watertight openings. Consider anchoring if in doubt and in suitable depth.

Minimum 10 hours rest in any 24-hour period, and minimum 77 hours in any 7-day period. Rest may be split into no more than two periods, one of which must be at least 6 hours. The interval between rest periods must not exceed 14 hours.

Take cross-bearings of fixed charted objects as soon as the anchor is down and record them. Monitor at regular intervals throughout the watch. Set a GPS anchor alarm. Monitor the echo sounder — increasing depth can indicate dragging. On a superyacht I would also monitor the heading indicator — a dragging vessel tends to sheer around. If any bearing changes, call the Master immediately and prepare the engines and second anchor.