Workbook: Deck

Introduction:

Your Navigation and Operations Workbook is an integral part of the Training Record Book (TRB) and is an extremely important part of your training and its satisfactory completion is a compulsory part of your training. Its purpose is to provide a place to record examples of relevant calculations, observations, diagrams, sketches, events and activities arising from your duties and the experience gained whilst undertaking sea service. This will provide information and evidence for authorised officials to sign off tasks in your TRB and in particular to assist them in judging whether a task can be signed off as progressing or proficient.

Workbook Entries:

For easy referencing the workbook should be divided into sections corresponding to the main task sections in the TRB. Some candidates keep their work in a ring binder to easy the entry of additional pages as further examples might be completed. Other candidates find a pre-bound hardback book easier to maintain. Each entry must include:

• Date
• Vessels Position (Port or Passage)
• Loaded / Ballast
• Name and rank of confirming officer

Listed below are some ideas and suggestions of the most commonly recorded items found in most workbooks but this is not an exhaustive list and you are expected to exercise your judgement in what you include.

Calculations:

All calculations must be shown in full, together with all workings.

Examples of calculations include the following:

• Azimuths & Amplitudes
• Sun Sights
• Star Sights
• Sailings
• Days run, ETA’s and Chief’s Noon Chit
• Tides
• Passage Plans

Diagrams & Sketches:

Should be neat, tide and accurate. Use of photographs where appropriate is acceptable but ensure they are labelled.

Short Written Reports, Notes & Checklists:

Make sure all written work is produced in plain English. Use short notes and bullet points where possible. You do not need to produce lengthy, detailed descriptions. Neither should you rewrite text books or copy large sections of operational manuals of makers instructions.

The Unusual:

Record the unusual – you may never be on a vessel that hangs off an anchor or pull the tail shaft but if you do then record your experience.

Referencing:

The most important aspect is to cross reference each entry in the workbook with the relevant task from the TRB. So if your DSTO is looking at a task, for example “fix the vessels position by visual bearings only”, he will expect you to be able to find the appropriate entries in the workbook that demonstrate you carried out this task and understand its significance.

Updated:   01 January 2016.