Chief Officer

The Chief Officer is the Masters deputy and hence his SecondinCommand 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 firefighting equipment and lifesaving appliances Antipollution 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