Six (6) Junior Officers of the Squadron Department were formally presented with Bridge Watchkeeping Certificates by Captain Coral Harbour, Captain Sonia Miller, Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander Jataro McDonald, and other senior officers during Morning Colours at Coral Harbour Base on 25 August 2025.
The recipients: Sub Lieutenant Robert Wood, Acting Sub Lieutenant Adrian Miller, Acting Sub Lieutenant Nyesha Ferguson, Acting Sub Lieutenant Wellington Ramsey, Acting Sub Lieutenant Wayne Munroe, and Midshipman Christopher Moss successfully completed their Bridge Watchkeeping Training from 22 July to 5 August 2025.
As a prerequisite to undergo the training, each officer was required to complete 200 qualifying hours at sea by both day and night, participate in emergency naval craft drills, demonstrate proper bridge etiquette, and master rules of the road, navigation, and navigational chart work. Based on the recommendation of their Commanding Officer, they were then permitted to sit the Bridge Watchkeeping qualifying examination.
The rigorous training program included night watches, oral, written, and practical navigational examinations, all designed to assess proficiency in the basic principles of safety at sea as well as navigational and ship-handling skills. Their successful completion now qualifies them as Officers of the Watch (OOW) aboard His Majesty’s Bahamian Ships (HMBS).
Key areas of focus during training included anchoring, docking, slipping harbour, voyage planning, blind pilotage, OOW maneuvers, towing, and sunset and radar reporting. Additionally, the officers participated in emergency and safety drills such as firefighting, damage control, abandon ship, man overboard, steering gear failure, and pre-sailing briefs.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to recognizing excellence and the professional development and welfare of its Officers and Marines, ensuring continued operational readiness and the highest standards of professionalism across the Force.
(RBDF photos by Marine Seaman Dante Forbes)
