Who is responsible for custody of reduction gear keys?

Who is responsible for custody of reduction gear keys?

• A. EOOW
• B. Engineer Officer
• C. Captain
• D. Chief Engineer

Answer: (B)

Custody of the reduction gear keys sits with the Engineer Officer because this role has the primary responsibility for the propulsion plant and the safety procedures that protect it. The Engineer Officer is the person charged with the engineering department’s oversight, ensuring that access to critical machinery and locking devices is controlled, authorized, and in line with lockout/tagout policies. By placing custody with the Engineer Officer, the ship’s propulsion system has a clear, accountable holder who can authorize maintenance and prevent accidental gear movement or starts. The Captain handles overall command, and while the Engineering Officer of the Watch oversees daily watch duties, the formal custodial responsibility for these keys rests with the Engineer Officer.

Custody of the reduction gear keys sits with the Engineer Officer because this role has the primary responsibility for the propulsion plant and the safety procedures that protect it. The Engineer Officer is the person charged with the engineering department’s oversight, ensuring that access to critical machinery and locking devices is controlled, authorized, and in line with lockout/tagout policies. By placing custody with the Engineer Officer, the ship’s propulsion system has a clear, accountable holder who can authorize maintenance and prevent accidental gear movement or starts. The Captain handles overall command, and while the Engineering Officer of the Watch oversees daily watch duties, the formal custodial responsibility for these keys rests with the Engineer Officer.