Official Logbook - OLB

Question 1

What details are on the front cover of the OLB?

Answer 1

Details of the vessel

• Name of Ship
• Port of registry
• Official number
• Gross Tonnage and Registered Net Tonnage
• Name of the Master and the number of his CoC
• Name and Address of the owner or managing company
• Date of opening and closing the book
• Space for signature of receiving superintendent at Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen

Question 2

The First section of the book has pages with headings dedicated to certain entries such as?

Answer 2

1. List of Crew
2. Record of births and deaths
3. Record of Musters and drills
4. Record of Test drills and inspections of the ships steering gear
5. Record of Inspections of Crew Accommodation
6. Record of Inspection of Supplies of Food and Water provided for the crew
7. Load line, depth of loading etc Position of load line, freeboard etc
8. Record of dates of departure and arrival from port, draught and freeboard at departure and arrival

Entries in this section show that certain statutory obligation laid down in various Merchant Shipping regulations have been complied with, for example the Merchant shipping (Musters, Training and Decision support systems) Regulations SI1999 No.2722 requires amongst many other things, that you have a muster drill and a fire drill every month. There is a section in the OLB set aside to record this.
MGN 71(M)

Question 3

What is logged in the narrative section of the OLB?

Answer 3

• First entry is always that the crew agreement has been started and the last that is has been closed (replaced by SEA’s??)
• Any seaman joining or leaving the vessel
• Any accident or injury
• Breach of the law
• Complaint
• Receipt of a distress message and action taken
• Collision / Grounding
• Breach of contract