Log Book

A log book is a ship’s official chronological record of voyage and operational events. The Official Log Book is the statutory volume the flag state requires for legal entries such as crew engagements and discharges, births, deaths, drills, and disciplinary matters; the deck (bridge) log records navigation, weather, and watch events, and the engine log records machinery operation. STCW 1978 (as amended) and SOLAS rely on these records to evidence watchkeeping, rest hours, and drills. Entries are made in ink, in sequence, and are not erased; corrections are struck through and initialed.