Chief Officer

The Chief Officer is the Master's deputy and hence his Second-in-Command. He understudies the Master in all aspects of his managerial, professional and commercial duties with a view to qualifying him for eventual command. He is responsible to the Master for the overall care and carriage of the Cargo, in particular during cargo operations. He is responsible for the overall planning of all cargo procedures.

He must keep a navigational watch. However, where a ship may carry an extra navigating officer, his watch keeping may be reduced, but not normally eliminated, (exception may be made to allow the navigating officer to undertake a period of day work), at the discretion of the Master

Accountabilities:

Shipboard security in the role of the Ship Security Officer (SSO) as required by the ISPS Code
(Together with the Chief Engineer) the safe working practices of all personnel
Cargo custody, handling and documentation
The preparation of cargo systems for the carriage of cargo and refit requirements
Ballast custody and handling as the Designated Ballast Management Officer
Stability, safe draughts and trim
Preparation of safe and suitable loading/discharging plans using the loading computer, to ensure that at no time do cargo/ballast operations exceed safe stresses and that the vessel always sails complying with damage stability criteria
Maintenance and testing of deck portable fire-fighting equipment and lifesaving appliances
Anti-pollution measures
Deck maintenance under the Chief Engineer Officer
He oversees the medical locker and is responsible to the Master for first aid and medical treatment
He has overall responsibility to the Master for the vessel’s seaworthiness and security with regard to proceeding to sea
Maintaining the Deck Information Book and all related records
Ensure that all deck officers are fully conversant with safe operational practices and are made fully aware of the correct methods and practices of ballasting, use of cargo pumps, valves etc. This is especially important with respect to the Second Officer who shall be able to take over the Chief Officers duties at any time
Cargo Watch at Loading and Discharge ports
Maintain regular checks on fixed and portable gas detection apparatus
Ensure all cargo/ballast/inerting valves are operational and turned on a regular basis
Responsible for the inspection of void spaces
The training of Deck and Marine Cadets and monitoring their progress
The Chief Officer must carry out any lawful command and delegated duty as issued by the Master.
The Chief Officer shall ensure that the other deck officers assist and understudy him as an essential part of their training and development.
The Chief Officer is the designated Ballast Water Management Officer.
He is also responsible for the proper performance of duty, including job allocation, of the other navigating officers and cadets, other than in navigational matters for which they are directly responsible to the Master.
He is further responsible for the supervision of the C.P.O./Bosun and ratings when assigned to deck tasks, and also the supervision of all ratings when engaged in tank cleaning, cargo or ballast handling.
Under the requirements of Annex V of Marpol the Chief Officer will act as the designated Environmental Waste Control Officer. Refer to NSQL Environmental Aspects and Impacts register
While he retains overall responsibility for all aspects of cargo handling care, he will hand over operational control of the cargo and the responsibility of the deck watch to the Officer of the Watch (OOW) during off duty periods whilst the vessel is in port.
While he retains overall responsibility for all aspects of cargo handling care, he will hand over operational control of the cargo systems to the Cargo/Gas Engineer and keep him/her fully informed of all relevant aspects of operations during sea passages and when engaged in navigational duties during port entry and departure.,
The handover between the Cargo/Gas Engineer and the Chief Officer shall be a formal procedure to avoid any ambiguity over who is in operational control and is to be recorded so in the deck operations log.
Undertake regular security inspections of the ship
Maintains and supervises the implementation of the Shipboard Security Plan (SSP), including any amendments