Question 1

As authorising officer, the Chief Officer is under schedule pressure to get hull touch-up work done before a port call, and the only window is while manoeuvring slowly into the anchorage. What should the Chief Officer decide?

Accepted Answer

Wait until the vessel is actually anchored or stopped before authorising the work, even under schedule pressure — the restriction exists specifically for situations where "nearly there" feels close enough but isn't Schedule pressure to start "a bit early" while still manoeuvring is exactly the scenario the stopped/anchored/berthed restriction is meant to resist — the job waits until the vessel is genuinely in one of those states.

Question 2

A cadet is told a hot work permit was issued "this morning" and asks the bosun how long it's valid for, without checking the form itself. What is the maximum validity period a permit to work can have?

Accepted Answer

24 hours from issue, with any shorter job-specific time limits also stated on the permit COSWP Chapter 14 sets 24 hours as the maximum validity period a permit can be issued for, with any further job-specific time limits stated on the permit itself.

Question 3

An OOW taking over the watch finds a permit for overside work was issued 20 hours ago and the job is still running. The outgoing OOW says it's "basically the same job, don't worry about it." What should the new OOW do?

Accepted Answer

Check elapsed time against the 24-hour limit, recognise it's close to expiry, and flag to the authorising officer that revalidation will be needed rather than letting it lapse unnoticed A permit approaching its validity limit needs proactive attention at handover, not passive monitoring — the new OOW's job is to flag it to the authorising officer before it lapses, not to wait for it to expire.