A gangway watchman is responsible for much more than standing at the ship’s gangway and checking visitors.
The watchman is the first point of contact for people coming aboard and plays an important role in ship security, safe access, communication, and general situational awareness.
An effective gangway watch requires you to monitor the gangway while also remaining alert to what is happening around the vessel.
What Is the Main Responsibility of a Gangway Watchman?
The basic responsibility of a gangway watchman is to control and monitor access to the ship while maintaining an effective watch on the gangway and its surroundings.
The ISPS Code forms part of the mandatory maritime security framework under SOLAS Chapter XI-2. IMO guidance also recognizes gangway duty personnel as an important part of controlling access to the vessel.
In practical terms, the watchman should:
- Know who is expected to come aboard.
- Check identification according to the ship’s procedure.
- Maintain the visitor log.
- Issue and recover ship’s visitor ID tag where required.
- Ensure visitors use the designated safe route.
- Notify the OOW or CCR or other responsible officer about visitors.
- Prevent unauthorized access.
- Monitor the condition and position of the gangway.
- Report anything unusual immediately.
Note: The important point is that the gangway is not the only thing you are watching.
Prepare the Gangway Before Visitors Arrive
When the ship is alongside and the gangway is rigged, the first step is to make sure the access area is properly prepared.
The exact equipment depends on the vessel’s SMS, SSP, company procedures, port requirements, the vessel’s current MARSEC level, and the type of ship.
This may include:
- Gangway safety net
- Lifebuoy with light
- Fire extinguisher
- Visitor log
- Tide tables
- Visitor list
- Gangway illumination
- Flashlight
- Visitor identification tags
- Required signages
- Communication equipment
- Fire plan or relevant emergency information
- Spare helmets and other PPE
- Gas detectors where required, particularly on tanker operations
The watchman should also wear the required PPE, including a high-visibility vest where specified.
Know Who Is Expected to Board
One of the most useful things a gangway watchman can have is an expected visitors list.
The visitor’s list contains the names and designations of people expected on board, depending on the ship’s procedures.
This gives the watchman something to compare against when somebody arrives.
Visitors may include:
- Ship agents
- Loading masters
- Cargo surveyors
- Class surveyors
- Port State Control inspectors
- Vetting inspectors
- Coast Guard or other authorities
- Immigration officers
- Technicians
- Company personnel
- Suppliers
- Seafarers’ mission or chaplaincy representatives
A visitor who is not on the list does not automatically mean the person is unauthorized.
But it does mean the watchman should verify before allowing access, following the vessel’s procedure.
Watch the Visitor Before He Boards
An experienced gangway watchman can learn something about a visitor before the person even reaches the gangway.
For example, a normal agent or loading master will often walk directly toward the ship.
An inspector may behave differently.
He might:
- stop on the quay and look at the ship’s draft,
- examine the hull
- look toward the stern
- inspect the bow area
- observe mooring arrangements
- or look at the ship’s side before approaching the gangway.
Related Article: Questions Inspectors May Ask a Ship’s Gangway Watchman
That does not mean the person is doing anything wrong. It may simply be part of his job.
But the gangway watchman should notice it.
If you see someone apparently inspecting the vessel from ashore, you can inform the CCR or OOW:
“Chief, there is a person on the quay checking the vessel. He has been looking at the hull, moorings, and draft. Are we expecting an inspector?”
That simple report gives the ship’s officers time to prepare.
The gangway watchman is effectively providing another set of eyes for the vessel.
Check the Visitor’s Identity
When the visitor reaches the gangway, remain visible and professional.
A simple:
“Good morning, sir. How are you? May I know your name, please?”
followed by:
“May I see your ID, please?”
is normally enough to begin the process.
Then, verify the person’s:
- Face against the photograph
- Name
- Company or authority
- Designation
- Purpose of visit
- Presence on the expected visitor list
If the visitor identifies himself as an agent, inspector, technician, surveyor, or other official, inform the relevant officer.
For example:
“CCR, Port State Control inspector on board.”
or:
“CCR, loading master on board.”
Do not rush the identification process. The photograph and identity document should actually be checked rather than simply glanced at.
Important: There are inspectors who use a different ID and catching it while on the gangway is a big plus on the overall positive impression of the ship!
What If the Visitor Is Not Expected?
This is where judgment matters.
Suppose someone arrives claiming to be a boiler technician. You check the expected visitor list and there is no technician listed.
Do not immediately assume the person is genuine, but do not automatically treat him as a criminal either.
Keep the person at the access point while you contact the OOW, CCR, SSO, or responsible officer.
You can ask simple questions while waiting:
“Which company are you from, Sir?”
“How was your trip coming here?
“What work are you here to perform?”
The responsible officer can then verify the information with the agent, superintendent, owner, charterer, or other relevant party while you hold the visitor at the gangway.
The final decision about whether that person is allowed aboard should follow the ship’s security procedures and the instructions of the responsible officer.
Make Sure Visitors Follow the Safe Route
A visitor who has been properly cleared can still become a safety problem if he gets lost.
If a visitor starts walking toward a restricted or hazardous area, get his attention immediately.
A simple:
“Excuse me, sir. This way, please.”
may be all that is necessary.
You should continue watching the person until he reaches the appropriate area or is handed over to an escort.
For inspectors and other personnel who require an escort, the gangway watchman should wait for the designated shipboard person whenever practical.
Never Forget the Ship While Watching the Visitors
This is one of the biggest differences between simply manning a gangway and conducting an effective gangway watch.
While watching visitors, remain aware of what is happening around the vessel.
- Look at the ship’s side.
- Look at the gangway.
- Look at the mooring lines.
- Listen for unusual sounds.
- Watch the vessel’s movement relative to the berth.
You may not have a 360-degree view, but you can still hear and recognize things happening elsewhere on the ship. A sudden unusual sound from a mooring station may require immediate attention.
Monitor Mooring Lines and the Ship’s Position
The gangway watchman can also provide an important early warning about mooring problems.
Look at the mooring lines and ask:
- Which lines appear slack?
- Which lines are becoming excessively tight?
- Is the vessel still properly alongside?
- Is the bow opening away from the berth?
- Is the stern moving away?
- Is the ship rising or falling with the tide?
Tide is particularly important in ports with a large tidal range.
Cargo operations and ballast operations can also change the ship’s draft, trim, and position so you must consider these factors as well.
Watch for Pollution and Other Hazards
The gangway watchman may also notice pollution that other crew members do not immediately see.
For example, watch for:
- Oil sheen around the ship, even on the shore side
- Unexpected discharge from the vessel
- Water coming out through scuppers
- Overflowing rainwater
- Abnormal conditions around the ship’s side
Important: If you see possible pollution, immediately inform the responsible officer personally, following the vessel’s established procedure. Where practical, avoid reporting a suspected pollution incident over the radio, as this may attract unwanted attention and potentially delay cargo operations, especially when the observation turns out to be a false alarm.
If You Need to Leave the Gangway
The most important rule is simple:
Do not leave the gangway unattended.
If you need to inspect the mooring station, cargo area, ship’s side, or other parts of the vessel, inform the OOW and follow the ship’s procedure.
If there are two gangway watchmen, one person may remain at the gangway while the other performs the additional check, provided this is permitted by the ship’s procedures.
When Visitors Leave the Ship
The departure procedure is essentially the reverse of boarding.
When notified that a visitor is leaving:
- Watch for the visitor to emerge from the accommodation.
- Ensure he follows the designated safe route.
- Recover the ship’s visitor ID.
- Recover any issued PPE or equipment.
- Record his time off.
- Inform the responsible officer that the visitor is off the ship.
If the officer says a visitor is leaving but several minutes pass without seeing him, report it.
The visitor may still be inside completing paperwork, but the watchman should not simply assume everything is fine.
The Mindset of an Effective Gangway Watchman
The best gangway watchmen do not simply ask:
“Who is coming aboard?”
They are constantly asking:
“What is happening around my ship?”
That means watching people, but also watching the gangway, moorings, tide, weather, ship’s movement, cargo operations, pollution risks, and unusual activity.
The gangway is both a security control point and a valuable observation position.
- You may be the first person to notice an unexpected visitor.
- You may be the first person to notice a ship moving away from the berth.
- You may be the first person to see an oil sheen.
- You may be the first person to notice a gangway becoming unsafe.
And sometimes, you may be the first person to hear something go wrong.
That is why an effective gangway watch is not a passive job.
It requires attention, communication, judgment, and knowledge of the vessel.
The watchman may be standing close to the gangway, but he should be thinking about the entire ship.
May the winds be in your favor.
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