ACN 144/18 - DEC 2018 DECK WATCH OFFICER TRAINING FOR CUTTER STUDENT ENGINEERS

united states coast guard

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE CANCEL DATE 11 DEC 2019


R 120921 DEC 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N03502//
ACN 144/18
SUBJ: DECK WATCH OFFICER TRAINING FOR CUTTER STUDENT ENGINEERS
A. Cutter Training and Qualification Manual, COMDTINST M3502.4 (series)
B. Naval Engineer Personnel Qualification Standard, COMDTINST M3502.11 (series)
C. Coast Guard Deck Watch Officer Examination Program, COMDTINST 16672.5 (series)
1. REF (A) requires that approved Watchstation Qualification Standards (WQS) be used
instead of legacy USCG/Navy PQS to qualify crewmembers for designated watchstations.
The Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS) Officer of the Deck (OOD), COMDTINST
M3502.5 (series) was cancelled in 2017 with the release of inport and underway OOD WQS.
Prospective Deck Watch Officers (DWOs), and by default, Student Engineers (STUENGs) are
required to complete the underway OOD WQS that can be found at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg751/SitePages/WQS.aspx, for every cutter class.
2. IAW REFs (A) and (B), STUENGs are required to complete DWO training, either Option 1
or Option 2. With the release of OOD WQS, Option 1 and Option 2 have been revised
as follows:
     a. Option 1: Complete the following OOD WQS sections:
        (1) Fundamentals.
             (a) Maritime Security Levels.
             (b) Ship’s Logs.
             (c) Draft and Release Messages.
             (d) Ship’s Distress Signals.
             (e) Dynamic Positioning Systems (if applicable to cutter).
             (f) Turning Circles and Stopping Distances.
             (g) All Radar/Automatic Radar Plotting Aids sections.
        (2) Systems.
             (a) Alarms.
             (b) Automatic Radar Plotting Aids.
        (3) Tasks (Watchstations).
             (a) Relieve the Watch as Conning Officer.
             (b) Relieve the Watch as Oncoming OOD.
             (c) Switch Between the Different Main Propulsion Modes of Control.
             (d) Hail Another Vessel.
             (e) Make Passing Arrangements in Overtaking, Crossing and Head-on Situations.
             (f) Report Contacts to CO.
             (g) Report Sound Signals for Vessels in Restricted Visibility.
             (h) Conn the Ship Using Standard Commands.
             (i) Transfer Steering Control from Primary Control to Each Alternate Method of Control.
             (j) Conn the Ship during Launch and Recovery of Cutter Boats.
             (k) All Abnormal Condition Duties.
             (l) All Emergency Duties.
        (4) In addition, the member is highly encouraged to complete the DWO examination in
accordance with REF (C).
     b. Option 2: This option consists of fully qualifying as an underway OOD using OOD WQS.
As such, the requirements for Option 2 are identical to the OOD qualification requirements
outlined in Paragraph 7.B. of REF (A). Successful completion of Option 2 will result in the
assignment of the appropriate OOD competency code. Successful completion of the DWO examination
in accordance with REF (C) is required.
3. The contents of this ACN will be incorporated into the next update of REF (A), which will
be released within the next year.
4. COMDT (CG-751) POC: Mr. Dennis Thorseth at Dennis.C.Thorseth@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2335.
5. Released by RDML Michael P. Ryan, Assistant Commandant for Capability.
6. Internet release is authorized.