Ship's Log

[Wingsley]

In TOS, Engineer Scott often took command in the absence of Captain Kirk and Commander Spock. In several episodes, he spoke for the Enterprise, either in ship's hails to other vessels or planets, or in recording the ship's log.

Scotty identified himself in hails as "the commander of the U.S.S. Enterprise" ("A Taste of Armageddon", "Friday's Child"), only once identifying himself by name ("The Enterprise Incident"). [NOTE: his brief dialogue with Bela Oxmyx in "A Piece of the Action" doesn't count because that was actually ship to landing party communication.]

In log entries, Scott typically started with "Ship's Log", followed by the stardate ("Friday's Child") but in "Bread and Circuses", he also started an entry with "Enterprise Log" prior to sending an EMP to the planet's surface to disrupt the "Roman" aliens there.

Spock had been shown making a "Captain's Log" on at least one occasion I remember ("The Gamesters of Triskellion"), and once made a "Second Officer's Log" ("The Enemy Within"). Spock also made "Ship's Log" entries as well.

Should there be a distinction here?

Is the "Ship's Log" different from the "Captain's Log", and do each of the senior officers also keep their own log entries separate? Would a "Ship's Log" only be recorded by the officer in command of the Bridge?

Are there any current, real-life analogies in naval, expeditionary and business/laboratory terms to draw from on this?

 

[EnsignHarper]

A lot of that is just differing nomenclature.

And in the instances you mentioned, Scott is the commander of the ship. ESPECIALLY in those circumstances - you don't go, "Hey, I'm the chief engineer, and we are about to make your planet into a ball of deadly radiation."

 

[Alter Ego]

Don't forget all the Captain's "personal logs." (There's a toilet joke here that I am fighting really hard not to tell.)

 

[Albertese]

I know in TNG there are logs kept by other officers. Chief Medical Officer stands out in my mind. I seem to recall McCoy doing similar. Wasn't he recording a log when Kevin Riley overheard him in "The Conscience of the King?"

--Alex

 

[Wingsley]

Courtesy the Memory Alpha article on "The Conscience of the King":

Medical log. Lieutenant Riley sufficiently recovered to be discharged, but the captain has ordered him restricted to sickbay to prevent contact with passenger who calls himself Karidian, and who's suspected of being Kodos the Executioner, and of murdering the Lieutenant's family.

 

[Wingsley]

...and from "Dagger of the Mind":

MCCOY: There are no superior facilities, he knows that. But that's not the question. If something unusual is going on down there--.

KIRK: --An assumption, Doctor.

MCCOY: I'm required to enter any reasonable doubts into my medical log. That requires you to answer in your log. Sorry, Jim.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Courtesy the Memory Alpha article on "The Conscience of the King":

Medical log. Lieutenant Riley sufficiently recovered to be discharged, but the captain has ordered him restricted to sickbay to prevent contact with passenger who calls himself Karidian, and who's suspected of being Kodos the Executioner, and of murdering the Lieutenant's family.

Medical Log: Captain Kirk has ordered that Lieutenant Riley be kept in sickbay to prevent him from learning that Kodos the Executioner may be aboard this ship and responsible for the attempt on his life. However, Starfleet regulations require that I deliver exposition on the subject within earshot of him, and unknown to me at this time, he's been standing right behind me and just escaped sickbay...ah, crap.

 

[MacLeod]

I would say that Ship's/Captain's/Enterprise log are in essence the same thing. A log entry made by whom ever is in command of the ship at the time describing events.

 

[MantaBase]

I would say that Ship's/Captain's/Enterprise log are in essence the same thing. A log entry made by whom ever is in command of the ship at the time describing events.

I agree. On a sea going vessel they are the same. Although "captains" and "ship" might be different on the show (speculating about a fictional show)

But I wonder about the OP's intent. Why is it important? In a sufficiently advanced age, the header information would be used to sort all things out. The computer would already know the identity of the speaker - just by voice. The access point/privilege would identify the log status/category. WHo knows how many catagories. Certainly "Captain", "Ship" (or Enterprise), and "Personal". But it would make sense for "Engineering", "Medical", "Science" et al.

In my current job we have (so to speak) personal logs, station logs, and Maintenance logs. They are mainly written, but I could see a few years from now they would be documented on a computer. They would be searchable.

EDIT: What I guess I am wondering is, do the logs come into play in the TOS? Or a TOS product? Like are there books of logs? I didn't mean to make it sound like I was questioning the importance of asking - just thought there might be a reason I don't know about.

 

[LadyT'Anna]

I would say that Ship's/Captain's/Enterprise log are in essence the same thing. A log entry made by whom ever is in command of the ship at the time describing events.

I agree. On a sea going vessel they are the same. Although "captains" and "ship" might be different on the show (speculating about a fictional show)

But I wonder about the OP's intent. Why is it important? In a sufficiently advanced age, the header information would be used to sort all things out. The computer would already know the identity of the speaker - just by voice. The access point/privilege would identify the log status/category. WHo knows how many catagories. Certainly "Captain", "Ship" (or Enterprise), and "Personal". But it would make sense for "Engineering", "Medical", "Science" et al.

In my current job we have (so to speak) personal logs, station logs, and Maintenance logs. They are mainly written, but I could see a few years from now they would be documented on a computer. They would be searchable.

EDIT: What I guess I am wondering is, do the logs come into play in the TOS? Or a TOS product? Like are there books of logs? I didn't mean to make it sound like I was questioning the importance of asking - just thought there might be a reason I don't know about.

In-universe, I think it's in "Balance of Terror" where Kirk and McCoy have a heated disagreement about a forthcoming entry in the medical log. I also remember an incident when Kirk is cranky because he doesn't know how to record something in his log. (He's being uncharacteristically bureaucratic there, IMHO.)

From a production point of view, all of these logs come in handy as narrative devices, but that doesn't explain the differing nomenclature for what should be the same thing (e.g., "ship's log" vs. "Enterprise log"). On the other hand, as we all know, the TOS scriptwriters weren't always consistent.

 

[MantaBase]

From a production point of view, all of these logs come in handy as narrative devices, but that doesn't explain the differing nomenclature for what should be the same thing (e.g., "ship's log" vs. "Enterprise log"). On the other hand, as we all know, the TOS scriptwriters weren't always consistent.

Thanks for the reply. I never paid attention to how they came into play other than a narrative engine.

I think for the writers it didn't matter much. Captain Log or Ship's Log or Enterprise Log. All the same. On a ship you would have the "Captain's Log" which is really the "Ship's Log" which in fact is the "Log of the Ship (Enter Ship's Name)". It's the official document of the voyage and belongs to the owner of the ship - actually to the ship. Personal logs are different. They are potentially legal documents, but are generally considered private. Just my thoughts....not sure they are useful.

 

[Timo]

FWIW, it seems clear that at least the "Captain's Log" entries in TOS are all dictated well after the fact, sometimes even explicitly so ("Unknown to us at the time.."). They are essentially the helpfully dramatic narration to the objective visual mission logs which are rather dull recordings as such. At least until a Starfleet prosecutor or a Talosian gets hold of them and engages in dramatic editing!

In contrast, the times the term "Ship's Log" or somesuch is used, it's at least theoretically possible that they are being dictated as we watch. Or at least moments before the camera joins the action.

Timo Saloniemi