船长是船上一切事务的总负责人，负责船上各方面的运作。很明显，船长颁布了他对航行安全和在船上进行的其他作业的要求非常重要。为了记住这些意图，船长把他的要求写下来，以避免在这个问题上的任何混乱。这就形成了船长常规命令和夜航命令。

    常规命令和夜航命令，各公司可能有自己的固定格式，指导或者要求。但船长应提供其本身的常规命令，以便向高级船员解释有关规定。考虑到一系列的要求，船长列出了最适合他个人判断和驾驶员能力的命令，考虑了船舶的性质、贸易模式和驾驶台团队的实践。这些命令也可能反映了过去引起关注的任何事情或可能维护团队合作高标准的事情，常规命令将由夜航命令每日作为补充。

    基本上，这是一份建立基本守则的书面文件，以便建立一个接近制度，发展相互信任。 

    《船长常规命令》是一套准则，旨在确保船舶在海上或港口安全航行和作业。船长制定的这套指南涵盖了航海的各个方面和高级船员的行为准则。值班驾驶员应始终遵守常规命令，并由船上每一位驾驶员正式签署，使他们有义务遵守这些命令。也就是说，现行规则在船舶在海上、港口或锚泊的任何时候都是有效和适用的。

    考虑到我们多数新手船长英文表达能力有限，本期小海哥就来分享4大船长常规命令英文样本。由于文章篇幅有限，以下仅展示其中一份船长常规命令样本，其他3份可根据文末下载方式自行获取，本常规命令样本的分享，仅供各位船长学习与参考:

MASTER STANDING ORDERS- (样本1)

For the whole period of his watch the Officer of Watch is responsible for safety of the vessel. The Officer of watch shall be guided by the contents of International Regulation and Guidelines, but paying particular attention to the followings:

1. Al sea, where the vessel is underway you must be on bridge at least 10 (ten) minutes before relieving the watch, sign the night order book, acquaintance yourself with ship's position, speed. Weather presence, movement of ship in sight or known to be in vicinity and obtain any pertinent information the Officer being relieved may has to pass on.

2. The Duty Officer of Watch is keeping a GOOD LOOK OUT using by all means available, visual and audible and electronics.

3. The International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea is to be strictly observed. Do not hesitate to use the whistle or engine's in obeying the regulations. Altering course for another ship to do so boldly and sufficient time to let any other ship be in no doubt at your intention.

4. As the Officer of Watch, when vessel is underway you should be on the bridge all the times. DO NOT LEAVE the bridge until another officer or myself properly relieves you.

5. Do not seat or lean on, it can make you fall asleep or un-alertly, be sure your rating on watch is thoroughly familiar with his duties and keep alert.

6. Unnecessary conversion with the man at wheel or with irrelevant person appears on the bridge is not conductive to keep a proper watch.

7. Make a regular check to ensure that helmsman or automatic pilot is steering the courses. When navigating in coastal water, use largest scale charts suitable for the area and correct with the latest available information.

8. Do not hand-over the watch to the relieving officer if you have reason to believe that the later is obviously not capable carrying out his duties effectively, in which case you should notify me accordingly.

9. As the officer of watch, you should notify or call me immediately in the following circumstances:

AA) lf restricted visibility is encountered or expected.

BB) If the traffic condition or movements the other ship is causing concern.

CC) On failure or sight land, navigation mark or obtain sounding by the effective time.

DD) If difficulty is experienced in maintaining course.

ΕΕ) On breakdown of the engine, steering gear or any essential navigation equipment.

FF)lf unexpectedly and or navigation mark is sighted or sounding occurs.

GG) In heavy weather, if doubt the possibility of weather damage.

HH) If the ship meets any hazard to navigation such derelicts etc.

II) lfany other emergency or situation in which you are in doubt.

10. Give passing ship a good or wide berth in ample time. Do not try to bluff the other ship cut of his right away. Let the other ship know in plenty time what you intended to do so. Keep at least three (3) miles off passing if possible, more of you think it’s necessary. Use VHF to exchange the necessary information in order to avoid collision situation.

11. When alone on the bridge, you should always keep in mind that the time for taking action for ship's safety while there is still time to do so. If weather start to make up or you think it may be necessary to change course or slow down, take immediate action for the safety of the ship where so require.

12. Do not let ship pounding, if you think she will pound or shows a tendency to pound, put the telegraph on “standby”, put the ship on hand steering, i necessary slow down. Try to notify the Engine Room, but in case emergencies DO NOT hesitate to slow down, stop or go astern. CALL MASTER in time to get on the bridge better soon than late.

13. If you found yourself among a fleet of fishing crafts, put the engine telegraph on "stand by, a man on hand steering and CALL MASTER. Watch out for small craft and fishing vessel on fishing bank and along the coast. Many of them do not carry proper lights, some may carry special lights or shapes, BE SURE you know what they mean.

14. In poor visibility, the RADAR must be always kept on. Do not wait until for or other cause shuts in all around you.

15. When approaching a port, marking land tall or steaming along the coast, be sure you know the characteristic of the lights, you will pick-up and the time you should see them.

16. Check the course on the chart every time, there is a change of course on your watch. Let me know immediately if there is an error or the course will lead the ship into danger. Please, check with two mean of position by crosschecking. Either by manual, Radar or GPS.

17. The ship to be put on hand steering all the time, the Telegraph on standby during fire and boat drill, when pilot has gone, when within five (s) miles of the coast, when approaching or steaming along the coast, when within three (3) miles of another ship in situation and when you as Officer of Watch may think necessary.

18. In port, whether at dock, at buoys or at anchor, the draft must be taken and entered in the log at the following time, 0800 hrs and 1700 hrs, Incoming OOW or outgoing OOW at the time should take the draft. Make sure yourself acquainted with LOADLINE permitted. When the draft is on the applicable mark, Fresh Water Allowance being considered, let me know. if l a not onboard, let Chief Officer know the situation. If we are taking Bunker or Freshwater at time, let Chief Engineer knows also.

19. During loading or unloading cargo, you as OOW should pay strict attention to the followings:

AA) Do not leave the deck unattended (except going to CCR for cargo checking reason) to ensure safety of the vessel, crews and cargo (to avoiding cargo overflow).

BB) Before loading commence all deck scuppers must be fitted properly, safety and firefighting equipment prepared and make ready for use at anytime.

CC) The Duty Officer and rating while performing the jobs during cargo operation are compulsory to wear safety gear.

DD) Shore leaved board is fitted, no deck Officer or deck rating is going ashore without first informed the Chief Officer or Master.

20. In all circumstances, while at anchor OOW should,

AA) Determine and plot the ship's position on the appropriate chart as soon as practicable, when circumstance permit, check at sufficiently frequent intervals whether the vessel is remaining securely and at anchor by taking bearing of fixed navigation marks or readily identifiable shore objects.

BB) Ensure that an efficient lookout is maintained and inspect around of the ship are made periodically.

CC) Observe tidal condition and state of seas.

DD) Notify me and undertake all necessary measure if anchor drag.

EE) Ensure the state of readiness of the main engine and other machinery is accordance with my instruction.

FF)If visibility deteriorates, notifies me and comply with the applicable regulations for preventing collision at sea (COLREG).

GG) Ensure that vessel exhibit the appropriate lights and shapes and sound signals are made at all time as required.

HH) Take measure to protect the environment from pollution by the ship and fully complying with applicable Pollution Regulations (MARPOL).

21. The proper DSC facilities shall be tested at least once a week by mean of a test call.

A good officer when face with unusual circumstances will apply COMMON SENSE AND GOOD PRACTICE OF SEAMAN to the situation and take act accordingly.

If you find yourself thinking about calling Master then the time has clearly come to do so.

Please signature below, indicating that you understood these orders which will be supplement by Master NIGHT ORDER each night when at sea or at anchor when require.

Date on this 

Master of MT/MV Master                      

1.Chief Officer                                         

2.Second Officer                             

3.Third Officer                                  

4.Junior Third Officer