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A typical watch

Officers stand watches, usually four hours on and eight off, around the clock. On watch you are responsible for the vessel: plotting the passage, watching radar and traffic, giving helm and engine orders, talking to other vessels and to port control. Off watch you sleep, eat and do paperwork, then get up and do it again at 4am. In port the pace flips to cargo operations, inspections and safety drills, and nobody gets a normal night.