Starship Shifts

[Doug Taylor]

Anyone have any idea how many shifts the typical Starfleet crews serve on during a typical "day" (24 hour period)?

At first I was leaning towards 8 hour shifts, but thinking about it more, especially how crewmembers often love what they do and thrive at their "jobs", it makes me wonder if they wouldn't have 12 hour shifts.

The reason this is coming up is that my first combat encounter is happening early in the 'morning' (0100) when the Main Bridge Crew is likely to be all in bed. It kind of matters how many shifts to determine who will be in charge on the Bridge when this encounter happens.

Any ideas, thoughts, or comments?

[skree]

Watch the TNG episode(s) "Chain of Command, Part I and Part II"

I believe the shifts are: Alpha Watch(0000-0800)
Beta Watch (0800-1600)
Gamma Watch(1600-0000)


or 4 shift watch
Alpha Watch (0000-0600)
Beta Watch (0600-1200)
Delta Watch (1200-1800)
Gamma Watch (1800-0000)

[Doug Taylor]

Watch the TNG episode(s) "Chain of Command, Part I and Part II"

I believe the shifts are: Alpha Watch(0000-0800)
Beta Watch (0800-1600)
Gamma Watch(1600-0000)


or 4 shift watch
Alpha Watch (0000-0600)
Beta Watch (0600-1200)
Delta Watch (1200-1800)
Gamma Watch (1800-0000)

That's right; I'd forgotten that they told that one time (I think "Data's Day" gave some info like this, too).

I guess I'll have to make it three watches then.

Thanks so much, skree!

[PGoodman13]

I typically make Alpha shift the day shift (0700-1500), Beta the swing (1500-2300), and Gamma the midnight (2300-0700), but that's just because it was the shift schedule I was used to working when I was in the USAF. I think Skree's answer might be a little closer to canonical.

I know that Enterprise under Picard was working a three-shift rotation, because when Jellico took command he had Riker change everything to a four-shift rotation, which raised merry hell with just about everyone aboard ship. Fortunately, Jellico wasn't the captain for very long.

[Dan Gurden]

The duty shift pattern aside, your initial thoughts about a 12 hour shift... Remember they are on assignment on a starship, and even in TNG with luxurious quarters they cant just nip out to the shops when they feel like it... My impression was always that Starfleet crew were always 'on-duty' so even when they are off shift they are working on projects, training, updating technical manuals, pulling a couple of extra hours to finish up... 10-Forward and the Holodecks can only accomodate sso much...

Just a thought. This is not really a CODA focused thread? Want to move it to the narrators area? As this is non-rule related and might be useful to more people?

[The Tatterdemalion King]

I'd imagine it might have more to do with what your job was, specifically. A scientist preparing reports or collating analyses of sensor data might have a longer shift, with more breaks, than an ops officer whose shift consists of standing behind a transporter station for eight hours (I bet O'Brien got a lot of reading done).

I mean, what did [strikethrough]Steve Zissou[/strikethrough] Jaques Cousteau do all day?

[Doug Taylor]

These are some really good points.

And you're right - this thread might be more appropriate elsewhere, so it's totally cool if someone wants to move it.

[PGoodman13]

It's moved to Star Trek Chat, then.

[JALU3]

I have posted this elsewhere, but perhaps the Wiki article on watch standing would be useful. As had been said by others, when deployed, even when you are "off duty" you are always "on call", and when general quarters sound, you still report to duty and stand your general quarters position, even if you're a Culinary Specialist Apprentice, you still have a post to stand, with duties to perform in that situation.

Certain positions had 24 hour manning, and thus watches would be held to ensure that; while other positions were at an, at need basis, such as Trio's counselor duties, and her shifts were predicated on the need of the crew and the ship. Furthermore, although it maybe outside of their standard shift, there are other duties a position maybe assigned on their off shift time, that needed to be accomplished. For instance the halls don't just vacuum themselves. I am sure that there are a lot of mundane things aboard ship that are never shown on screen. There is also continuing education, and personal improvement if all else fails, not to mention social interactions.

I personally like the 12/12/4/3 idea for certain jobs, but that'd never work at sea.