What action should be taken with the deck log at 0000?

At the stroke of midnight, or 0000 hours, a new day begins in the ship's operational cycle. Starting a new entry in the deck log is crucial because it officially marks the transition to a new date and time for all recorded activities. This process ensures that all occurrences, such as watch changes, significant events, or any operational notes that take place throughout the day, are properly documented and organized in chronological order. Each page of the log corresponds to a specific day, making it easier to reference past actions or decisions during audits or reviews.

In this context, while reviewing previous entries is essential for providing continuity and context during the watch, and making copies or closing the log have their own importance, the primary and most immediate action at midnight is to initiate the new entry. This practice maintains the integrity of the log and complies with operational procedures for record-keeping aboard the ship.