SHIPBOARD

ORGANIZATION
STRUCTURE
 SHIP ORGANIZATION
• The ship’s crews are the personnel who sail on
board a ship and are responsible for its
operation, primarily when the ship is at sea
(with some responsibility as well when at port).
• Seafarers hold a variety of profession and
ranks, and each of these roles carries unique
responsibilities which are integral to the
successful operation of a seafaring vessel.
 SHIP ORGANIZATION
• A ship’s crew is divided into three (3) distinct
sections/department:

DECK ENGINE CATERING

DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT
 DECK DEPARTMENT
• Includes crew members who are responsible
for navigating the vessel, safety and security of
the ship and handling the ship’s cargo
(loading & discharging).
 ENGINE DEPARTMENT
• An engine department or is an organizational
unit aboard a ship that is responsible for the
operation, maintenance, and repair of the
propulsion systems and the support systems
(such as boilers, pumps, generators and other
machineries and systems).
 GALLEY DEPARTMENT
• The catering or galley department is
responsible for preparation and serving of
foods to the crew on board of a ship.
 CAPTAIN

DECK ENGINE GALLEY

DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT

CHIEF OFFICER CHIEF ENGINEER CHIEF COOK

2ND OFFICER 2ND ENGINEER MESSMAN

3RD OFFICER 3RD ENGINEER

DECK CADET 4TH ENGINEER

ELECTRO TECH
BOATSWAIN ENGINE CADET

ABLE BODIED FITTER

SEAMAN
OILER
ORDINARY
SEAMAN WIPER
 THE CAPTAIN
• The Captain or Master is the ship's highest
responsible officer, acting on behalf of the
ship's owner / operator or manager.

• The Captain/Master is legally responsible for

the day-to-day management of the ship. It is
his/her responsibility to ensure that all the
departments perform legally to the
requirements of the ship's owner /operator or
manager.
 THE CAPTAIN
• Master also usually has the advice of pilots
while the ship is navigating in restricted waters,
such as narrow or shallow channels. Also, each
shipboard department has a designated head
who reports to the master.

• Additionally, in ports, he will take care of

ordering and supervising the delivery of
provisions and galley supply.
 DECK
DEPARTMENT

CHIEF OFFICER

2nd OFFICER 3RD OFFICER

BOATSWAIN

ABLE BODIED
SEAMAN

DECK CADET

ORDINARY
SEAMAN
 CHIEF OFFICER
• The Chief Officer, also called Chief Mate or
First Mate is the head of the deck department.

• He is second-in-command after the ship's

master. The Chief Officer's primary
responsibilities are the vessel's cargo
operations, its stability and supervising the
deck crew. The Chief Officer is responsible for
the safety and security of the ship, as well as
the welfare of the crew on board.
 CHIEF OFFICER
• The Chief Officer typically stands the 4-8 hours
of navigation watch. Additional duties include
ensuring good maintenance of the ship's hull,
cargo gears, accommodations, the lifesaving
and firefighting appliances.

• The Chief Officer also trains the crew and

cadets on various aspects like safety,
firefighting, search and rescue and various
other contingencies
 SECOND OFFICER
• The Second Officer, also called Second Mate
is usually in charge of ship navigation.

• He/she is the third-in-command, after the

Master and Chief Officer.

• The second officer typically stands watch from

1200 to 1600 at noon and again from 0000 to
0400 in the nights.
 SECOND OFFICER
• The navigation officer is responsible for
maintaining the charts and navigational
equipment on the bridge. The duties also
usually entail developing and making the
voyage plan of the ship under the direction of
the ship’s Master.
 THIRD OFFICER
• The third officer also called 3rd Mate primarily
charged with the safety of the ship and crew.

• The Third officer generally serves as the ship's

chief safety officer. The Third Officer is the next
licensed position on board the vessel, as
fourth-in-command.

• Responsible for the Fire Fighting Equipment &

Life Saving Appliances.
 DECK CADET
• A Deck Cadet or Trainee
Navigational Deck Officer or Nautical
Apprentice is an apprentice who has to learn
the basic duties of a deck officer onboard a
ship.

• The cadet has to complete the prescribed

sea-time (1 year) on board ships in order to
take the exams of being an officer.
 BOATSWAIN
• A boatswain, also known as a bosun, is the senior
crewman of the deck. He is responsible for the
ship's hull and all its components, including its
rigging, anchors, mooring, deck maintenance
and small boat operations.

• The boatswain is designated the warrant officer in

the Navy. In the Merchant Marines, he is an
unlicensed member of the crew. He is considered
the foreman and supervises other crew members
of the deck department.
 ABLE BODIED SEAMAN
• The AB’s duties include standing watch, where
the AB will steer the ship (helmsmen) according
to the Deck Officer’s instructions and generally
assist the mate on watch, performing routine
maintenance and docking duties, and any other
tasks that Deck Officers request.

• ABs may also carry out deck and

accommodation patrols, and maintenance on
lifeboats, rescue boats, life-rafts, and emergency
and damage control gear.
 ORDINARY SEAMAN
• An Ordinary Seaman is the lowest rank of a
ship’s deck crew. It is considered an entry-
level position and comprises the main labor
force on board a boat.

• An Ordinary Seaman is supervised by the

Captain and the Engineer, and can be given
instructions by any individuals ranked above
him, such as Mates or Able Bodied Seamen.
 ORDINARY SEAMAN
• Duties can include buffing and painting decks
and superstructure, sweeping and washing the
deck, handling wires and ropes, maintaining
cargo-handling gear, rigging, and running
gear, securing cargo, and launching and
recovering lifeboats. While an OS is not usually
required to stand watch, part of the OS’
training will include examinations on
watchstanding skills, which can include
performing lookout duties and being a
helmsman.
 ENGINE
DEPARTMENT

CHIEF ENGINEER

3rd ENGINEER 2ND ENGINEER 4TH ENGINEER

ELECTRO TECH

ENGINE CADET

FITTER

OILER

WIPER
 CHIEF ENGINEER
• The Chief Engineer is the manager (overall in-
charge) of the engineering department and is
responsible for the engine room’s efficient
operation and the operation of all mechanical
equipment on the ship. In this respect, the
Chief Engineer shoulders much responsibility
for the safe and continued running of the ship.
 CHIEF ENGINEER
• All planned mechanical and electrical
maintenance falls under the Chief Engineer’s
remit, which will require detailed records of
engine parts and repairs to be kept. The Chief
Engineer is also responsible for calculating fuel,
water consumption requirements and
coordinating operations with shore side
engineers.
 SECOND ENGINEER
• The 2nd engineer provides utmost assistance to
the Chief engineer for running the ship
efficiently. Moreover, second engineer is also
in-charge of all the operational engineers and
the crew of the engine room. He ensures for
their personnel safety and routine duties. He
also plans the overall maintenance of all the
machinery present in the engine room of the
ship.
 THIRD ENGINEER
• A third engineer or second assistant engineer is
a rank of engine officer who is part of
the engine department on a ship.
• The third engineer is usually in charge of
boilers, fuel, auxiliary engines, condensate
and feed systems, and is the third most
senior engine officer on board.

• Typically in-charge of fueling (a.k.a.

Bunkering)
 FOURTH ENGINEER
• On all types of ships, irrespective of the
shipping company, a 4th engineer shall report
to the 2nd Engineer, who shall assign the duties
to him, both at sea and at port and whose
orders he or she shall consider effective and
binding as though emanating from the Chief
Engineer. Moreover, the 4th engineer shall also
assist the 2nd engineer when necessary in
carrying out duties of the later.
 FOURTH ENGINEER
• The 4th Engineer as in charge of Purifier,
Compressor, and machinery other than main
engine, auxiliary engine and boiler.
 ELECTRO TECHNICIAN
• An electro technical officer is one of the most
important people on a vessel, especially when
it comes to his/her expertise of handling
electrical equipment of the vessel.

• As an electro technical officer, your main duty

would be to ensure functioning
and maintenance of electrical equipments on
vessel.
 ENGINE CADET
• Engineering Cadets assist and understudy the
ship’s Engineering Officers in their duties.

• Working through an internship-like program

aboard ships, an Engineering Cadet will get
involved in work in the control room, under the
supervision of the Engineering Officers.
 ENGINE CADET
• They will also assist Engineering Officers in
maintaining the ship’s main engines, and
running and maintaining all mechanical
equipment, including the operation and
maintenance of pumps and fuel systems,
electrical generating and distribution
equipment, refrigeration, air conditioning
plant, lifts, and cranes.
 FITTER
• It wouldn’t be overrated to say that one of the most
important jobs in the shipping industry and on board
ship is that of a shipfitter.

• A shipfitter is a person who has the responsibility to

make sure that all the necessary repair work in a
ship is done properly and efficiently. Repair works
not only mean fitting parts but also include
maintaining the basic design and construction with
which the ship was built and re-creating the ship in
such a way that the damages are completely
wiped out.
 OILER
• Oilers are members of the engineering
department which help keep ship motors and
engine parts properly lubricated.

• They also record gauge readings, do machine

repairs and perform routine maintenance and
cleaning tasks. They are the engine room
equivalent of sailors, and are also referred to
as motorman or pump-man
 WIPER
• A wiper is the most junior rate in the engine
room of a ship.

• The role of a wiper consists of cleaning the

engine spaces and machinery, and assisting
the engineers as directed.
 GALLEY
DEPARTMENT

CHIEF OFFICER

3RD OFFICER
 CHIEF COOK
• Prepares healthy and tasty meals within the
allowance given.

• Keeps the Galley and Messroom spotlessly

clean.

• Keeps an account of all provision and stores.

 CHIEF COOK
• Supervises all galley / mess personnel.

• Submits provision list for approval of the Master.

• Manages ship’s stores.

• Gives proper supervision of the loading,

storing, cooking and other activities performed
in his area of jurisdiction.
 MESSMAN
• The "all-around man" is the messman. He may
perform any of the following duties: setting
tables, serving food or waiting on tables.

• Part of his job is also to clean the dishes and

equipment, prepare coffee and beverages,
make beds and clean quarters of officers. He is
used wherever the chief steward wants him.
 CAPTAIN

DECK ENGINE GALLEY

DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT

CHIEF OFFICER CHIEF ENGINEER CHIEF COOK

2ND OFFICER 2ND ENGINEER MESSMAN

3RD OFFICER 3RD ENGINEER

DECK CADET 4TH ENGINEER

ELECTRO TECH
BOATSWAIN ENGINE CADET

ABLE BODIED FITTER

SEAMAN
OILER
ORDINARY
SEAMAN WIPER
 CHAIN OF COMMAND
• The chain of command or command structure
was a ranking system used by militaries and
other organized groups. It represented the line
of authority down which orders are passed
from one officer to another, and also the line
down which passed command of a
particular vessel or installation.
 ELECTRO TECH

CHIEF COOK

CAPTAIN DECK CADET

CHIEF ENGINEER ENGINE CADET

CHIEF OFFICER BOATSWAIN

2ND ENGINEER FITTER

ABLE BODIED
SEAMAN
2ND OFFICER OILER

3RD ENGINEER WIPER

3RD OFFICER ORDINARY

SEAMAN
4TH ENGINEER
MESSMAN