Alogbook (orlog book) is a record used to record states, events, or conditions applicable to complex machines or the personnel who operate them. Logbooks are commonly associated with the operation of aircraft, nuclear plants, particle accelerators, and ships (among other applications).
The termlogbook originated with theship's log, a maritime record of important events in the management, operation, and navigation of a ship. The captain was responsible for keeping a log, as a minimum, of navigational wind, speed, direction and position.
Logbooks come in many varieties, but they are sometimes standardized in form and/or content within certain organizations or industries. In some applications likeflight training or truckinghours of service, they contain specific information used to satisfy legal requirements.
Prior to the advent ofmobile computing, logbooks were almost exclusively printed and bound inhard copy form. While physical logbooks offer advantages in frontline applications with many users (likeaircraft maintenance logs), the proliferation ofcloud computing and mobile devices has enabled the development ofelectronic logbooks. They may be as complex as software packages, or as simple as editablespreadsheets, but electronic logbooks offer several advantages including virtually unlimited capacity and digitalbackups.
To record key navigation, engine watch, port calls and other operational activities on board vessels of all sizes, marine logbooks must meet the specific reporting requirements ofIMO,SOLAS and flag states. When maritime logbooks are of the electronic variety, manually-inserted information is normally combined with data recorded from the vessel's instruments such as time and position. Typical marine logbooks are:
Deck logbook – Records navigational events related to the voyage and operations on board
Dynamic positioning logbook – Manual recording of operations related to Dynamic Positioning (DP) operations
Engine logbook – Records engine events related to the engine and machinery operation
Oil record book – Records events related to oil and dirty water as required by IMO's MARPOL convention[1]
Operational log – Records events related to vessel operation, i.e. performance, cargo handling and maritime operations. The Operational Log will typically need some customization to owner's requirement and trade.
Port or harbor logbook – Records incoming and outgoing vessels at a port
Radio logbook – Records events relevant to radio traffic as required byIMO and the flag states
The maritime industry is increasingly adopting digital logbooks to replace traditional paper-based records, aiming to enhance operational efficiency, ensure compliance with international regulations, and improve data accuracy.A significant development in this field is the creation ofISO 4891: Ships and Marine Technology – Interoperability of Smart Applications for Ships.[2] This standard establishes a framework for the seamless integration of smart applications on vessels, facilitating efficient communication and data exchange between various systems. The standard was developed through a collaboration betweenDIN, the German Institute for Standardization, and the Japan Ship Technology Research Association[3] and several reputed stakeholders of the maritime industry.The adoption of digital logbooks and the establishment of interoperability standards like ISO 4891 reflect a broader trend towards digital transformation in maritime operations, promoting safer, more efficient, and sustainable shipping practices.
On any industrial site, there is a continuous stream of operational, maintenance and safety events occurring at all levels and areas within the process.[4] An electronic shift logbook is used at power plants and in process industry where several shift teams cooperate in maintaining production. Typically the electronic shift logbook is used to record state at the production plant, but it can also contain simple planning functions that notify personnel about upcoming maintenance activities. Compared to the paper logbook the electronic shift logbook enhance the value of the gathered information through;
Search functions
Defined plant hierarchy for registration of logbook entries
Classification according to certain entry types
Statistics about most problematic areas
Management reports
Additionally, access to the information storage can be controlled through user authentication and authorizations mechanisms.[5][6]
It has since been applied to a variety of other uses, including:
Aircraft pilots must maintain apilot logbook to record their time spent flying and in a simulator. In addition, aircraft operators must maintain an aircraft technical logbook (or "tech logs") recording the aircraft's flights, maintenance and defects.
In aproject, a logbook is a recording which is compiled while it is being done may be called aproject diary.[10][11] In thePRINCE2 project management framework, daily logs are used to record issues, actions or events not caught by other types of registers or logs within the framework. Examples of other logs or registers in PRINCE2 include the lessons log, risk register, issue register, quality register or backlog.
Inskydiving, a logbook serves as a parachutist's personal history in the sport and also serves as an identifying document. It also providesdrop zones proof to back one's skydiving licenses, ratings and currency.[citation needed]
Inscuba diving, thedive log documents the experience of a diver by logging a diver's dives.
Foramateur radio, the logbook is where the hams register their contacts and other radio operations. There are several programs to help radio operators in the management of their logbook.[citation needed]
Forcommercial vehicles: In Australia,[12] Canada,[13] the United States,[14] New Zealand[15] and other countries, a logbook is used to register driver and operator work time for commercial heavy vehicles. In the United Stateshours of service are recorded in a logbook. In New Zealand it is referred to aswork-time.
^Triant G. Flouris; Dennis Lock (2016), "Case History or Project Diary",Managing Aviation Projects from Concept to Completion,Routledge, p. 484,ISBN9781317101956{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
