Nautical Term: Officer of the watch

Definition of Officer of the watch

An Officer of the Watch (OOW) is a naval officer assigned to supervise and manage the operations of the ship during their watch.

For instance, in the following scenario, the Officer of the Watch plays a crucial role:

The weather was becoming increasingly stormy, and the ship’s Officer of the Watch (OOW) was growing increasingly concerned about the safety of the ship and its crew. The OOW alerted the captain and took immediate action to secure the ship and protect the crew.

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