EFFICIENT DECK HAND (EDH)

1. Meaning of common nautical terms as used at sea per Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary.
2. The name and functions of various parts of the ships, e.g. Decks, compartments, bilge, ballast tanks, air-pipers, sounding pipes, strum box, ejector lines.
3. Knowledge of the compass card from zero to 360 degrees. Ability to report approximate bearing of an object in degrees and points and aspect of the vessel, viz. red/green as and when visible.
4. Handling of patent logs, i.e. reading and streaming.
5. Markings on a hand lead line, taking sounding with hand lead line and reporting depth and nature of bottom.
6. Understanding helm order and repeating back order to confirm understood and reporting again when wheel rudder activated.
7. Making to anchor cables, arrangement of lug less joining shackles, bitter end release arrangement, swivel pieces.
8. The use of firefighting and lifesaving appliances parred on board a merchant ship.
9. The normal stowage position of LSA & FFA and symbols used to show location.
10. Ventilation shut off and remote quick closing valve system.
11. Location of emergency alarms.
12. Rigging of a stage, Bosun’s chair and pilot ladder including precautions taken prior and during use.
13. Rigging of derricks, precaution in rigging, schooner guys and preventer guys.
14. Operations and precautions to be applied when using winches for mooring and cargo operations.
15. Crane operation.
16. Knots, hitches and bends in common used on merchant ships including their appropriate application.
17. Clove hitch, bowline, timber hitch, double clove hitch, reef knot, sheet bend, sheep shank, double turn and two half hitches.
18. Seizing the ends of a fiber rope and wire rope.
19. The use of marline spike. Palm and needle whipping rope stopper types, wire stoppers and chain stoppers including carpenter stoppers.
20. Rope-work and splicing for fiber rope and wire rope.
21. The use of eye-splice, short splice and back splice, thimbles and its types.
22. Care and maintenance of fiber and wire ropes.
23. Deck maintenance tools and equipment commonly used for painting, chipping, greasing and rigging.
24. Planned maintenance schedule and record keeping.
25. The role of ratings in bridge team management.
26. Understanding of rest hour provisions as per STCW-95.
27. Understanding performance criteria and preparation for evaluation on board as well as by port state control.
28. Hatch covers and tank lid operations including precautions to be observed.
29. Maintenance requirement and procedure.
30. Basic understanding of the ISM Code, Shipboard common language and communication system.