Duties and Responsibility Chief Officer

Duties and Responsibility Chief Officer

All crew on board have their respective duties and responsibilities, on this occasion we will discuss the duties and responsibilities of the chief officer

Responsibilities: Supervisor of Deck Department and lead crew members to accomplish their duties, co-ordinate with Master and relevant crew on implementing the requirements of the company’s safety management system. 

In charge of the maintenance of the ship’s hull and the cargo handling equipment, deck machinery, cargo hatches, hatch cover, watertight devices, life-saving appliance, fire-fighting appliance, communication and navigation aids, according with the SMS requirements, make out the maintenance plan and maintenance fulfillment record. Take custody of all technical data, drawings and ship’s certificates. When the ship needs repair in shipyard or dock, prepare the repair list and send it to the company advance, during the repair supervise the repair items for which the Deck Department is responsible and examine them on completion.

Obey Master’s instructions and in charge of cargo loading /discharging and stowing operation, plan the stowage well, cooperate with the stevedores and other parties concerned. When loading / discharging big heave cargo, dangerous cargo and valuable cargo, should present on the spot to monitor and direct the whole process to prevent damage and loss of cargo. Upon the completion of the cargo loading /discharging, should send the Company the routine loading or discharging report, stowage plan and stability calculations.

Read: Duty and Responsibility Of Master On Board

Responsible for ballast water operation, shall report to master for approval at sea if any.

Examine the cargo documents are in order, check and make sure all the crew members are on board, make sure the duty officers and relevant persons to preparatory work before sailing, take strictly precautions against fire and stowaways.

On duty during the periods of sailing and anchoring, Pay attention to life saving and fire fighting equipment, cargo handling machinery and cargo are securely lashed down, during gale warnings, should urge and supervise his crew members to perform and strengthen all the precautions in order to protect the above items.

Monitoring the deck department and catering team store’s requisition, receipt, custody, consumption and write-off. Control the reserve and consumption of fresh water, in charge of the  filling, pumping out and shafting ballast water, examine the daily sounding records for every tank of fresh water, ballast and bilge wells and record into the Deck Log Book. 

Check and keep the Deck Log Book and keys of the ship, sign the Deck Log Book every day. Be familiar with content in the Company’s correspondence, and monitor the crew members to do so.

In charge of maintenance for the life saving appliances and cooperate the Chief Engineer to maintaining and supervise the fire fighting equipment , supervise the 3rd. Officer to check the relevant apparatus and regular to do maintenance work according to regulations and make records accordingly. 

Read: Duty Of Chief Officer On Board

Organize and dispose measure for preventing piracy when the ship is anchored in a port or outer anchorage or sailing through the water which pirates haunt, ensure the safety of the ship and crew members.

Responsible for monitor and management of various records and files.

In charge of describing the deck department duty time table for master approval, and record.

When hand over the duty, shall fulfill the form ”Chief Mate Hand Over Statement”.

The duty time is 0400-0800and 1600-2000 when ship is at sea or anchorage.