It’s that time of year again. Every year, the Coast Guard and other seafaring services honor the tradition of writing the Jan. 1 midwatch watch log entry in the form of a poem.
MyCG will publish the best submissions from across the service. Please submit your watch log entry to MyCG@uscg.mil by Jan. 6. All submissions must include the author’s name. Check back on MyCG early next year to see your shipmates’ best work! In the meantime, check out some of the fleet’s finest work from years past.
For context, here are some example standard log entries from Procedures for the Preparation and Disposition of Cutter Logs, CIM 3123.12J:
Underway
0000-0400
UNDERWAY IN THE OLD BAHAMA CHANNEL IN POSITION 23-00.0N, 075-35.5W, 8NM SOUTH OF CAY SAL BANK BAHAMAS ON A COURSE OF 120T. THIS UNIT IS UNDER THE OPCON OF CCGDSEVEN AND ADCON OF COMLANTAREA ON AMIO PATROL IAW PATROL ORDERS. MATERIAL CONDITION YOKE IS SET THROUGHOUT THE SHIP. NAVIGATION LIGHTS FOR A VESSEL OUR CLASS AND SIZE ARE ENERGIZED AND BURNING BRIGHTLY. BOTH SMALL BOATS ARE CRADLED AND SECURED FOR SEA. NR1 AND NR2 MDE'S ARE ONLINE AND TURNING FOR 12KTS. NR2 SSG IS ONLINE AND NR1 SSG IS SECURED. BMC MCDONALD HAS THE DECK AND CONN. THE OOD IS ENS BROWN.
In Port
0000-0400
MOORED PORT SIDE TO BERTH B-4 AT U.S. NAVAL STATION NORFOLK VA WITH STANDARD MOORING LINES DOUBLED. THIS UNIT IS UNDER THE OPCON AND ADCON OF COMLANTAREA IN CHARLIE STATUS IAW THE ANNUAL OPSKED. MATERIAL CONDITION YOKE IS SET THROUGHOUT THE SHIP. ALL DECK, MOORING, AND AIRCRAFT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ENERGIZED AND BURNING BRIGHTLY. RECEIVING ELECTRICAL POWER, TELEPHONE, FRESH WATER, AND SEWAGE SERVICES FROM THE PIER. SOPA IS CO USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65).
-USCG-
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