QUESTION 4.3.2

Machinery-space operating mode and team composition

Oil, Chemical, LPG, LNGEngine Control Room, Bridge

What is being checked

The inspector is checking whether machinery-space attendance and engineering resources support every voyage and cargo phase, including manoeuvring, restricted waters, STS, drifting and abnormal plant condition, and whether plans, records and interviews demonstrate that the procedure is applied during real voyages rather than completed only as paperwork.

Ready onboard

0/6 complete

PROCEDUREThe procedure defines UMS or manned status, minimum engineering attendance, generator and standby plant and escalation criteria for each operation.EVIDENCEReconcile recent engine-room and bridge logs, daily orders, alarm history, call-outs and rest records with the declared machinery mode.RESPONSIBILITYThe Master and responsible officers can identify who prepares, verifies, approves and monitors each stage.MANOEUVRINGEngineer attendance, propulsion control, generators, steering support and standby auxiliaries match the manoeuvring plan.UMS LIMITAlarm, automation or critical-equipment defects that invalidate unattended operation are identified.RESTCall-outs and prolonged attendance are captured in actual rest and relief planning.

Practice questions

Answer aloud, then open the preparation point.

1What is the operational purpose of machinery-space operating mode and team composition?

Machinery-space attendance and engineering resources support every voyage and cargo phase, including manoeuvring, restricted waters, sts, drifting and abnormal plant condition.

2Show how the procedure was applied on the last voyage.

Reconcile recent engine-room and bridge logs, daily orders, alarm history, call-outs and rest records with the declared machinery mode.

3Which decision requires the Master's judgement?

The Chief Engineer and Master decide when defect, workload, weather or navigational risk requires additional attendance or suspension of UMS.

4What happens if the planned control becomes invalid?

Change to manned operation, call competent personnel, restore redundancy and notify the bridge and shore before continuing a critical phase.

5How are changes communicated and recorded?

Brief the affected bridge and machinery personnel, amend the controlled plan or record, obtain required approval and retain the reason and revised limits.

Where an observation may arise

PAPER COMPLIANCE

Records exist but the bridge team cannot relate them to the actual voyage or operation.

CHANGE UNCONTROLLED

A material change is not reassessed, approved, briefed or recorded.

FALSE UMS

The machinery space remains recorded as UMS despite a defect or condition requiring attendance.

BRIDGE MISMATCH

Bridge and engine records show different machinery status.

INSUFFICIENT TEAM

One engineer cannot safely cover the planned plant, workload and response.

Past observations for practice

Process

There was no company procedure which defined the required machinery space team composition considering the traffic density, proximity to navigational hazards and environmental conditions.

Process

The manning levels on the engine room for various stages of voyages were not recorded.

Human

The OP was not able to locate the company procedures which stipulates when engine room can be operated UMS and manning composition required for the various stages of the voyage when manned.

Master's practical note

Review one period of degraded machinery. UMS notation does not justify unattended operation when the alarm, redundancy or response assumptions are no longer valid.

Equipment boundary and references

Equipment boundary: Approved UMS capability establishes design standards, but operating mode must still follow company procedure, class limitations and the actual condition of machinery and personnel.

References

OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Question Library Part 1, Version 1.0, Question 4.3.2
SOLAS Chapter II-1 Part E
STCW Code section A-VIII/2
ICS Engine Room Procedures Guide

Last reviewed: 2026-09-11