The operation of a ship is a result of the excellent teamwork of deck

and engine department. One cannot run the ship with only
engineers on board or for that matter with only deck officers.

While the engine department ensures the safe running of the ship’s
machinery, the deck department is an organizational unit in which,
deck officers performs navigational and other important duties
directly related to the efficient working of the ship, apart from those
involved with the engine room.

One of the most important ranks among deck officers is that of a

Chief Officer, the head of deck department of the ship. S/He is one
of the four management level officers on the ship who report
directly to the captain and his/her second in command after the
master of the ship.

Important duties of a ship’s Chief Officer

include
1. Chief Officer is responsible for performing vessel navigation watch
duties.

2. S/He is responsible for the entire cargo operation in ports which

includes loading, unloading, and cargo planning.

3. S/He is the in-charge for maintenance of cargo gears and cargo

carried on board ship.

4. One of the critical tasks performed by the chief officer is the

accountability of the stability of the ship.

5. S/He is responsible for the maintenance of the ship’s hull and

accommodation.

6. All the life saving and fire fighting appliances of the vessel comes
under the responsibility of the chief officer.
7. The duties include the administration task of scheduling and
distributing work to deck crew.

8. S/He has to build up the co-ordination with other departments

and take part in conflict resolution.

9. S/He is responsible for garbage management for the deck and

accommodation part of the ship.

10. S/He is in charge of the ballast and de-ballasting operation done

on board.

11. S/He has to make sure all the crew members are complying with
latest rules of MARPOL, SOLAS and STCW.

12. ISPS code is another responsibility that the chief officer has to
look over.

13. Training in all the above regulations and conventions are to be

carried out by the chief officer as per company policy.

14. To look after supply, overtime, cost control records, purchase

order, requisition, and other paperwork on behalf of shore
management.

15. S/He also acts as SSO- ship security officer, responsible for the
security of the ship both in port and at sea.

16. S/He is the overall safety in charge of the deck crew.

17. S/He is responsible for the welfare of the crew on board ship.

One cannot think about operating a ship without considering the

position of the chief officer. A Chief Officer is a key position on the
ship, one who assists master and shore management and helps in
training crew and juniors.
Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not
necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if
used, in the article have been sourced from available information and
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