Preparation and Maintenance of

Ships Deck Log

USS MOMSEN (DDG 92)
Instruction 3100.7A
Prepared by: MIDN 2/C Turner

Background
The Ships Deck Log is:
The MOMSENs official record of events
The ships legal record
Accounted for by the Officer of the Deck (OOD)

The Deck Log contains:

Historical information
Every circumstance or occurrence of importance or interest:

Concerning the crew

Concerning the operation and safety of the ship
Ships location, employment, and other events

The Deck Log requires the review and signature of the

OOD after each watch

The Deck Log must be reviewed DAILY by the Navigator
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Preparation
Only use black ball-point pens
No gel types

WRITE ENTRIES IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS

Use full, grammatically correct sentences in PAST

TENSE
Standardize regular entries by logging verbiage verbatim
Use only allowed abbreviations
Blank lines are allowed only after watch turnovers
Corrections
One-lined
Corrected and initialed by the OOD in the left margin

Responsibilities
The Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW), Petty Officer

of the Watch (POOW), or Designated Watch Personnel

are authorized to make entries in the Deck Log
Do not rely on provided information
Pay close attention to the happenings on the Bridge or
Quarter Deck
Time and Sequence of events

OOD
Supervises the Deck Log
Requires
Operational Data
Navigational Data
Relevant Event Information

Directly responsible for all content

Reviews after each watch
After mooring/anchoring, the off-going Sea and Anchor

OOD shall review and sign the Deck Log prior to

transferring the watch to the Quarter Deck.
Signs only after corrections have been made and
sufficient details are recorded in the format:
/ / Signature / /
H. G. Grey, BM1

Incident Procedures
In the event of a collision, grounding, or any catastrophic
event involving MOMSEN, the ships Deck Log shall be
immediately safeguarded and collected as evidence.

General Entries
Receipt of 12 oclock reports
RECEIVED DAILY MUSTER/ MAG TEMPS/ FUEL, OIL
AND WATER/ DRAFT/ SPY SKID/ NETWORK
SECURITY/ BOAT REPORT.

Each Zone aloft

PERSONNEL WORKING ALOFT IN ZONE(S)
1/2/3/4/5/6.

Training Environments
ENTERED/SECURED FROM (applicable training team)
ENVIRONMENT.

Do not log events of a drill if ships movement is not required

Commencement/ Completion of Checklists

Logged and followed with entries in accordance with the
specified evolution checklist
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General Entries (contd)

First entry for a new watch
ASSUMED THE WATCH, MOORED/UNDERWAY AS
BEFORE.
Times should match between the new OOD assuming the watch
and the previous OOD being relieved.

When the SNOOPIE team is called away

SNOOPIE TEAM AWAY (LOCATION).

Changes in material readiness

MATERIAL CONDITION ZEBRA/ MODIFIED ZEBRA/
YOKE/ etc. SET THROUGHOUT THE SHIP/ MAIN
DECK AND BELOW.

Honors/ Ceremonies/ Visitors of importance and

interest
Change of Command, Official Visits, and Salutes Fired
Log as commenced and completed
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General Entries (contd)

NO FURTHER ENTRIES THIS PAGE.
Will not be abbreviated
Written at the end of the day prior to the mid-watch entry
Placed above a line from top right to bottom left made with a
straight-edge
Requires the signature of the OOD to close out the days entries

Personnel Casualties
PERSONNEL CASUALTY: (NAME) RECEIVED
(DESCRIBE) INJURY AT (LOCATION). (NAME) HAS
BEEN TREATED AT (LOCATION) BY (WHOM).
If a MEDVAC is required, log when personnel departed the ship
and who is escorting the person
(NAME) WAS TRANSFERRED TO (LOCATION).
(NAME) WAS ESCORTED BY (NAME).
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In-port Entries
Arrival/ return and departure of the Commanding
Officer and Executive Officer.

CO/ XO ARRIVED/ DEPARTED/ RETURNED.

Only the Commanding Officer going on leave is logged.

If the Commanding Officer is on leave, annotate in the

mid-watch entry.
If the XO is acting CO log arrival/ departure
XO ARRIVED/ DEPARTED/ RETURNED.

Visitors O-5 and senior (O-4 if in command)

(DESIGNATED COMMAND) ARRIVED/ DEPARTED.
Include title or rank if title is unknown

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In-port Entries (contd)

Check in new personnel by:

Name
Grade
Rank
Last four of their Social Security Number
Time of onboard check in
BM3 JUSTIN CASE, 1234, REPORTED ON BOARD.

Upon Sunrise/Sunset
OBSERVED SUNRISE/SUNSET.

Logging reveille is not required

Hourly check-ins by security rover (s)

INTERNAL ROVER 1/2 (if more than one) REPORTS
ALL SECURE.
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In-port Entries (contd)

CDO turnover
LT SOSO ASSUMED DUTIES AS COMMAND DUTY
OFFICER.

Personnel and details will be entered into the Deck Log

if:

Arrested
Detained
Unauthorized Absence
Returning from said status

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Underway Entries
Stationing/ securing detail
Navigation Detail
Sea & Anchor Detail
Engineering Sea & Anchor Detail
STATIONED/ SECURED THE ____ DETAIL.

When MOMSEN sets RMD

RESTRICTED MANEUVERING DOCTRINE IS IN
EFFECT. SECURE FROM RESTRICTED
MANEUVERING DOCTRINE.

Primary navigation plot shifting/ Changes in fix interval

NAVIGATION SHIFTED PRIMARY POLOT TO
CONNING STATION. COMBAT AND NAVIGATION
SHIFTED TO 15 MIN FIXES.

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Underway Entries (contd)

Buoys and location
PASSING RED/ GREEN/ CARDINAL BUOY ___ TO
STBD/ PORT.

Pilots presence on the ship

PILOT EMBARKED/ DEBARKED.

COs presence on the bridge

CO IS ON/OFF THE BRIDGE.

Sighting another warship/ tactical situations

Include as much detail as possible

Vessels flag
Personnel sighted on deck
Vessel characteristics/ seaworthiness, etc.

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Underway Entries (contd)

Special Occurrences
Sighting of a periscope

Type of submarine if known

Unauthorized surveillance

First sightings
Land, shoals, rocks, beacons, buoys, lights, discolored waters, or
unusual atmospheric/ environmental conditions
SIGHTED LAND/ ROCKS AT (BEARING/RANGE).
ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN.

Visibility changes
VISIBILITY HAS REDUCED TO _____ NM/ YDS.
VISIBILITY HAS INCREASED TO ____ NM/YDS.

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Underway Entries (contd)

Major equipment tagged out
Include the reason for tagging out
____ TAGGED OUT FOR MAINTENANCE/
TROUBLESHOOTING/ WATER WASH.
Log when equipment is tagged back in

Sunrise/Sunset
OBSERVED SUNRISE/SUNSET, DE-ENERGIZED
NAVIGATION LIGHTS.

Set and Drift

Log every 3 hours
COMPUTED SET ____ AND DRIFT ____.

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Underway Entries (contd)

Flags and Day-shapes
Closed up
Hauled down

Bravo, Kilo, 1st Sub Papa

___ CLOSED UP/ HAULED DOWN.

Man overboard
MAN OVERBOARD CALLED AWAY FOR MUSTERING
PURPOSES.
MAN OVERBOARD WAS RECOVERED AFTER 7 MIN IN
THE WATER. MAN OVERBOARD WAS STG3 EYE
SLIPPED. MAN OVERBOARD POSITION: ____ WATER
TEMP: ____.

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Anchoring/ Mooring Entries

Distance to anchorage
Record in yards
1000 YDS TO ANCHORAGE.

When anchor is let go

LET GO THE ANCHOR.

Amount of chain
3 SHOTS OF CHAIN PAID OUT.

Anchoring characteristics
Depth of water, Latitude and Longitude, Bottom type
ANCHORED IN 12 FATHOMS/ FEET OF WATER AT
12-34 N 154-32 E WITH SAND/ SHELL/ ROCK
BOTTOM TYPE.

When anchored
Log how anchor tends every hour
ANCHOR TENDS 12 OCLOCK LIGHT/ MEDIUM/
HEAVY STRAIN.
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Underway Replenishment Entries

Tactical control
USNS ____ HAS TACTICAL CONTROL OF MOMSEN.

Positions
Lifeguard (L-4)
Waiting (L-6)
Making its approach
SHIP IS AT LIFEGUARD/ WAITING STATION 500/
1000 YDS ASTERN OF USNS ____. THE SHIP IS
MAKING ITS APPROACH ON USNS ____.

Flag signals
ROMEO CLOSED UP; SHIP IS MAKING ITS APPROACH
ON USNS ____.

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Underway Replenishment Entries (contd)

Significant events
Shot lines over forward/ amidships/ aft
Messenger in hand
Starting/ stopping fuel transfer, etc.

Alongside
THE SHIP IS ENGAGED IN UNDERWAY
REPLENISHMENT OPERATIONS WITH USNS ____
INVOLVING SLIGHT COURSE AND SPEED CHANGES.
ROMEO CORPEN IS ____. ROMEO SPEED IS ____
KTS.

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Flight Operation Entries

Setting flight quarters

Log squadron name

Souls on board
Fuel status
Operational status and tail number of the helicopter
Entry can be made later if communications are still being
established
SET FLIGHT QUARTERS FOR DLGS WITH EASY
RIDER 701. ____ SOULS ON BOARD.

Deck status
Regularly log and update to include helicopter operation status
GREEN/ AMBER/ RED DECK.
HELO OVER DECK.
HELO ON DECK.
CHOCKED AND CHAINED, RED DECK.
HELO AWAY.
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Small Boat Operation Entries

Manning the boat deck

Purpose of the boat operations

What MOMSEN RHIB is used
Souls on board
Operational status
MANNED THE BOAT DECK FOR PAX
TRANSFERS/VBSS OPERATIONS, etc.

Small boat status

Regularly log until boat is secure for sea in the skids:
RHIB ALONGSIDE.
RECOVERING/ LOWERING RHIB.
RHIB AT THE RAIL.
FOUR PASSENGERS DEBARKED/ EMBARKED.
RHIB IN SKID.
RHIB SECURE FOR SEA.
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Emergency or Tactical Situations

Logical order of events from start to end
If unable to make entries into the Deck Log, take notes
with annotated times
Make late entries into the Deck Log if necessary
Request assistance from a Quarter Master or Bridge
Watch Officer
If unsure
Error on the side of caution, log it

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Examples
For more examples see:
Common Deck Log Words and Phrases
Common Deck Log Entries
Mid-Watch Entries

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References
OPNAVIST 3100.7 (series); Preparing, Maintaining, and

Submitting the Ships Deck Log

U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990
OPNAVIST 3120.1L (series); Standard Organization and
Regulations of the US Navy
MOMSENINST 3121.1L; Commanding Officers Standing
Orders

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