Crew special abilities clarification?
 

As far as I can make out, when you click on a crew special ability, the effect of the ability activates immediately and the ability icon that shows at the top of the screen shows the duration that ability is in operation for until it deactivates. Is this correct and is this the same for all abilities?

I was initially confused whether that timer icon was showing me the time until the ability was applied.

Some abilities, like the sonarman's Reveal Hidden Enemies or the cook's Special Meal, seemed to hint that the timer icon was displaying the time until the ability came into force.

Can anyone clarify?

The Cook's special meal ability has these limits:

So it'll last 10 minutes (600 seconds) but won't be available for 12 hours or less, depending on how high you've raised the ability.

The timer you see should be it's duration.

Is there nothing you don't know about the ins and outs of this sim Kylania? I really appreciate all the help you've been giving this lowly ensign ;)