What kind of checks might the GPOW perform to maintain security?

The primary role of the Gangway Petty Officer of the Watch (GPOW) includes maintaining the security of the vessel, which directly relates to the responsibilities involved in conducting security checks of personnel and visitors. This task is essential to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to the ship, thereby safeguarding both the crew and the vessel itself.

Implementing rigorous security checks involves verifying identification, assessing the purpose of a visit, and ensuring that no unauthorized items or individuals enter the ship. Such vigilance helps prevent potential security breaches or threats, aligning with the GPOW's duty to maintain a secure environment on board.

While the other choices involve important activities, they do not specifically address the GPOW's focus on personnel security. Inspections of ship supplies could relate to logistics, aerial surveillance pertains to an entirely different area of security oversight, and conducting inventories of navigation tools centers around resource management rather than direct security measures. Hence, the choice related to security checks of personnel and visitors directly aligns with the GPOW's core responsibilities.