Navigation Officers – First or Second Officers

PURPOSE

BASIC FUNCTION: The Watchkeeping Officer (1st or 2nd Officer) is, on behalf of the Master, in command during his watch. In all questions relative to this, the Watchkeeping Officer receives orders from and is directly subordinate to the Master. In questions pertaining to safety, security, sea readiness, and pollution prevention the Watchkeeping Officer is also subordinate to the Staff Captain. The Apprentice Officer supports the Officer in Command.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The Watchkeeping Officer's qualifications shall conform to all international and national conventions and regulations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

All Watchkeeping Officers shall develop a thorough understanding of the vessel’s and company’s safety, quality and management program(s) and his/her responsibilities in the Safety Organization according to the Emergency Plan and Station Bill. He shall in particular have a thorough understanding of the Navigation Policy and Procedures set out by the vessel and the company.

The Watchkeeping Officer shall ensure that all safety, security and environmental regulations are obeyed and that the alarm and indicator panels are under observation always. He shall ensure that the Safety rounds are carried out in accordance with the standing orders.

At sea, the Watchkeeping Officer shall ensure that discipline is maintained on the Bridge and that all Watchkeeping personnel properly perform their duties.

In port the Watchkeeping Officer shall keep radio contact with the security guards at the gangways. He shall regularly check that the gangway operation is free of problems.

The Watchkeeping Officer shall, from the Bridge, supervise any shifting of moorings and be aware of any important work in progress outside normal working hours and whenever good seamanship dictates. He shall maintain a constant alert for sudden strong winds that might affect the ship's moorings. He shall notify the Master, or if the Master is ashore, the Staff Captain at once, and take corrective actions as the need arises.

The Watchkeeping Officer shall report to the Master or Staff Captain any significant events that occurred on his watch. Important events shall be reported immediately, but he is to act on his initiative if necessary.

Should the Watchkeeping Officer find it necessary to give an order to the engine room that would likely result in equipment damage, as advised by the Watchkeeping Engineer or the Chief Engineer, the responsibility rests with the Watchkeeping Officer. The decision of the Master should be obtained if time permits. The Master is to be informed in any case. The time and details shall be entered in the log book.

The Watchkeeping Officers should be ready, when necessary, to operate the tender boats

The Watchkeeping Officer shall also be prepared to make a stability calculation if so required by the Staff Captain.

The Watchkeeping Officer shall be familiar with and comply with the Navigation Policy and Procedures set out by the vessel and the company

Primary Duties

Officers in the Deck Department will be assigned primary duties, besides the Watchkeeping duties, by the Staff Captain. These duties will be supervised directly by the Staff Captain who is in turn responsible to the Master. In carrying their duties, the Officers shall be accountable, on behalf of the Staff Captain, for the care and condition of the materials and spare parts, associated with the equipment and systems within their areas of responsibility. They shall ensure their portions of the Maintenance system are current. They shall keep the Staff Captain informed on all matters relating to their areas of responsibility.

They are to see that any subordinates assigned to them are given the necessary instruction for the proper performance in their duties. They are responsible for the preparation of all required reports respectively.

They are to make out the necessary requisition lists for spare parts and materials and submit them to the Staff Captain for approval. They are responsible for keeping a thorough check on all expenditures and to base their requirements on sound economic evaluation.

The Staff Captain may temporarily choose to redistribute work across responsibility areas when he considers it necessary. With the approval of the Master, permanent redistribution of specific responsibilities may be specified for a certain ship or a certain itinerary. Any such permanent redistribution of responsibilities should be stated in the Master's standing orders.

The Watchkeeping Officers shall also keep track of the chlorination recorder for the potable water distribution system to ensure that the system contains the specified free halogen residual levels (Refer to section 7.06 of this manual). If the system is not functioning properly, the Chief Engineer Jr. or the Staff Captain shall be informed immediately.

Navigation

The Watchkeeping Officer to whom this task is delegated shall carry out his duties in accordance with section 4.0 of the Navigation Policy and Procedures Manual.

Lifesaving Units With Equipment

The officer designated for this task shall supervise the maintenance and repair of the ship's lifeboats, rescue boats, tenders and descent gear. He shall ensure that the lifeboats are fully fueled, the batteries are charged, and they are properly equipped and ready to launch always. He shall work in close cooperation with the Engine Department on the technical topics. He shall also ensure that the condition of the life rings, smoke signals and lights is perfect. This Officer shall maintain the inventory and maintenance records of the above lifesaving equipment in the Maintenance system.

This Watchkeeping Officer shall ensure that the weekly and monthly inspections are carried out in compliance with SOLAS Chapter III Reg. 20.6 and 20.7, respectively.

Fire Fighting Equipment

The officer designated for this task shall supervise the inspections and maintenance of the ship's fire fighting equipment, including maintaining the inventory and maintenance records in the maintenance program. Excluded from his responsibilities is the ship's fixed fire fighting equipment and sprinkler system, the water mist system and the permanent Halon and CO2 systems. These equipment and systems are under the responsibility of the Engine Department. Also excluded are all Mobile Stations and air-filling stations, as they are the responsibility of the Safety Officer.

He shall ensure that the portable fire fighting equipment is ready for immediate use and is properly stowed and marked. He is responsible for keeping the maintenance and inventory records of the equipment and shall ensure proper documentation and replacements as required by SOLAS, the Flag State, the Port State and the Classification Society.

He shall ensure that all watertight doors are operated daily and inspected at least once a week, according to SOLAS, Chapter II-1, and Regulation 24. He shall ensure that a record of all tests, drill and inspections are entered in the log book with a detailed description of any defects that have been disclosed (Ref SOLAS II-1, Regulation 25). Drills and weekly inspections should also be logged in the maintenance program. Daily operation should be logged in the log book only.

He shall supervise the testing of the fire screen doors on a weekly basis, ensuring that all fire screen doors are tested for function at least monthly. This Watch-keeping Officer shall consult the technical department if any mechanical or technical problems are found, and shall also enter the tests in the Maintenance system. The Staff Captain shall be informed accordingly.

Whenever needed, the officer shall get assistance from the Staff Captain and Chief Engineer for technical or other problems needing special skills or work force.

Safety Training

Furthermore, all Watchkeeping officers shall, in conjunction with the Safety Officer, Security Officer and other marine officers, train the crew, both in regular drills and in smaller groups, to ensure that all crew are familiar with their duties in the Safety Organization. The training shall be organized in a monthly schedule prepared by the Safety Officer and approved by the Master and Staff Captain. The crew training in the handling of the life boats, for certification purposes should be primarily the responsibility of the nautical officers, and secondarily of the Safety Officer.

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