Answer
“The Official Log Book is a statutory shipboard record prescribed by the Flag Administration in which the Master records important matters concerning the ship, crew, statutory events, accidents, drills, disciplinary matters and other matters required by national Merchant Shipping legislation.”
A key distinction:
Official Log Book is not the same as:
- Deck logbook
- Engine-room logbook
Key Required Entries in the Official Log Book
Category | Mandatory Entries |
|---|---|
Ship & Voyage Details | Vessel name, official number, IMO number, gross tonnage, port of registry, Master’s name, and details of crew agreements. |
Disciplinary Matters | Offences committed by crew members, legal convictions, court hearings on board, fines imposed, forfeitures, or desertions. |
Personnel & Life Events | Births, deaths, and marriages occurring on board; seafarers leaving the ship (discharges, injury, or illness); inventory of property/wages belonging to deceased seafarers. |
Medical Records | Details of illness, injury, or medical treatment administered to any crew member or passenger on board. |
Safety Drills & Tests | Testing of steering gear prior to departure and emergency steering drills (SOLAS Ch. V Reg 26); abandon ship, fire, and enclosed space entry drills; life-saving appliance (LSA) and fire-fighting appliance (FFA) periodic inspections. |
Navigation & Stability | Departure and arrival drafts, freeboard, density of water, and stability parameters before proceeding to sea. |
Casualties & Incidents | Collisions, groundings, heavy weather damage, structural failures, major machinery failure affecting seaworthiness, or security incidents (ISPS Code). |
Strict Legal Rules for Entries
- Timing & Signatures: Entries must be made as soon as possible after the event occurs and signed by the Master and witnessed by an officer or crew member.
- Corrections: Erasures, use of correction fluid (white-out), or tearing out pages is strictly illegal. Any error must be struck through with a single thin line so the original text remains legible, and signed/dated by the Master.
- Custody: Upon completion of a voyage or change of crew agreement, the OLB is submitted to the Maritime Administration / Shipping Master as required by Flag regulations.