A scheduled period of duty aboard a vessel, typically lasting four hours, during which a specific group of officers and crew operate the ship. The term also refers to the group of people themselves, traditionally divided into starboard and port watches. Maintaining a strict rotation ensures the vessel is safely manned around the clock without exhausting the crew.
Heard on the job
The first mate has the morning watch, so keep the bridge clear until turnover.
Insider tip
On merchant ships, watches are usually four hours on and eight hours off, whereas smaller vessels might run different rotations.