Why most serious incidents are visible hours before they happen
Estimated read time: 45–55 minutes
Skill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer
Contents
- Introduction – Rounds Are Not Walking
- The Purpose of Deck Rounds
- The Deck as an Early-Warning System
- What to Look For (and Why It Matters)
- Sensory Clues: Sound, Smell, Vibration
- ISPS Reality During Rounds
- Common Round Failures
- Escalation & Reporting Discipline
- Night Rounds and Fatigue Traps
- What Good Rounds Prevent
- Key Takeaways
1. Introduction – Rounds Are Not Walking
Deck rounds are often reduced to:
- box-ticking
- habit walking
- compliance theatre
That misunderstanding causes incidents.
Rounds exist to detect deviation early, before escalation.
Every major deck-side failure is preceded by small abnormal signs.
2. The Purpose of Deck Rounds
Deck rounds serve four purposes:
- Detect leaks
- Detect degradation
- Detect unsafe conditions
- Detect unauthorised presence
If rounds do not actively search for these, they are meaningless.
3. The Deck as an Early-Warning System
Ships communicate problems subtly:
- a new vibration
- a changed sound
- a fresh stain
- an unfamiliar smell
- abnormal warmth
Rounds train the watchkeeper to notice change, not absolute condition.
4. What to Look For (and Why It Matters)
Water where it shouldn’t be
- scuppers backing up
- weeping joints
- deck penetrations leaking
Oil or hydraulic sheen
- early hose failure
- seal degradation
- contamination pathways
Mooring stations
- line vibration
- uneven tension
- chafe development
Machinery
- heat
- noise change
- fluid loss
Each of these is an incident precursor.
5. Sensory Clues: Sound, Smell, Vibration
Experienced deck personnel rely heavily on:
- abnormal whine
- rhythmic knocks
- hot oil smell
- ozone / electrical odour
These cues often appear before alarms.
Ignoring them delays response.
6. ISPS Reality During Rounds
ISPS on deck is not forms — it is:
- noticing doors left open
- recognising people out of place
- challenging movement at odd hours
- identifying tampering
Security failures rarely look dramatic.
They look slightly wrong.
7. Common Round Failures
- rushing to get out of weather
- skipping stations
- walking same route every time
- failing to report “minor” issues
- assuming someone else will notice
Rounds fail when curiosity disappears.
8. Escalation & Reporting Discipline
Reporting early is competence, not weakness.
A small report:
- creates record
- triggers checks
- prevents blame later
Failure to report converts observation into liability.
9. Night Rounds and Fatigue Traps
Fatigue narrows perception.
Common night-round errors:
- missing slow leaks
- ignoring unfamiliar noise
- misjudging severity
- postponing action until morning
Morning is often too late.
10. What Good Rounds Prevent
Proper deck rounds routinely prevent:
- fires
- pollution
- mooring failures
- flooding
- security breaches
The absence of incidents is not luck — it is vigilance.
11. Key Takeaways
- Rounds detect change, not perfection
- Small signs precede big failures
- Sensory awareness matters
- Reporting protects people and careers
- Most incidents announce themselves quietly