About This Role
The Chief Officer serves as the Master's Second-in-Command and deputy, understudying all aspects of the Master's managerial, professional, and commercial duties to prepare for eventual command. This role is responsible to the Master for the overall care and carriage of cargo, particularly during cargo operations, and for the comprehensive planning of all cargo procedures.
Responsibilities
- Act as the Ship Security Officer (SSO) for shipboard security as required by the ISPS Code
- Ensure safe working practices for all personnel (together with the Chief Engineer)
- Manage cargo custody, handling, and documentation
- Prepare cargo systems for the carriage of cargo and refit requirements
- Manage ballast custody and handling as the Designated Ballast Management Officer
- Maintain stability, safe draughts, and trim
- Prepare safe and suitable loading/discharging plans using the loading computer to ensure that cargo/ballast operations do not exceed safe stresses and that the vessel complies with damage stability criteria
- Maintain and test deck portable fire-fighting equipment and lifesaving appliances
- Implement anti-pollution measures
- Oversee deck maintenance under the Chief Engineer Officer
- Oversee the medical locker and is responsible to the Master for first aid and medical treatment
- Have overall responsibility to the Master for the vessel's seaworthiness and security with regard to proceeding to sea
- Maintain the Deck Information Book and all related records
- Ensure that all deck officers are fully conversant with safe operational practices and are aware of the correct methods and practices of ballasting, use of cargo pumps, valves etc., especially the Second Officer who shall be able to take over the Chief Officer's duties at any time
- Conduct 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
- Train Deck and Marine Cadets and monitor their progress
- Carry out any lawful command and delegated duty as issued by the Master
- Ensure that other deck officers assist and understudy as an essential part of their training and development
- Act as the designated Ballast Water Management Officer
- 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
- Supervise the C.P.O./Bosun and ratings when assigned to deck tasks, and all ratings when engaged in tank cleaning, cargo or ballast handling
- Act as the designated Environmental Waste Control Officer under the requirements of Annex V of Marpol (refer to NSQL Environmental Aspects and Impacts register)
- 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 retaining overall responsibility for all aspects of cargo handling care
- 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, while retaining overall responsibility for all aspects of cargo handling care
- Ensure the handover between the Cargo/Gas Engineer and the Chief Officer is a formal procedure to avoid any ambiguity over who is in operational control and is recorded in the deck operations log
- Undertake regular security inspections of the ship
- Maintain and supervise the implementation of the Shipboard Security Plan (SSP), including any amendments
- Coordinate the security aspects of handling cargo and ship's stores with other ship's crew and the PFSO
- Propose modifications to the SSP
- Report deficiencies and non-conformities identified during internal audits, reviews, security inspections, and verifications of compliance, and implement any corrective actions
- Enhance security awareness and vigilance onboard
- Ensure adequate training has been provided to crew members
- Report and record all security incidents
- Coordinate implementation of the SSP with the Company Safety Officer (CSO) and the relevant PFSO
- Ensure security equipment is properly operated, tested, calibrated, and maintained
- Complete the ship security log, recording all incidents that occur and are investigated
- Conduct an annual review of the Ship Security Plan, highlighting any recommendations to the CSO
Requirements
- Awareness of cargo tank construction
- Budget control
- Bunkering operations
- Knowledge of cargo orders, charterers' instructions, terminal and state requirements, port documentation
- Knowledge of charter parties, Bills of Lading
- Charterer's instructions & compliance
- Communications with 3rd parties and company
- Communications with other nationalities
- Customer focus
- Knowledge of demurrage, laycan, NOR
- Knowledge of different ship charters
- Disciplinary procedures & process
- Diversity awareness
- Experience in environmental protection and use of anti-pollution equipment
- Experience of transiting high-density traffic areas
- Experience with cargo transfer operations (STS, Co-mingling, COW, Inert Gas, LNG discharge, emergency operations)
- Experience with multinational crews
- Experience with Products Crude and LNG Cargo planning arrangements
- Experience with tankers of all sizes
- GMDSS operation and maintenance
- Handling incompetent/difficult staff
- International trade
- IT experience
- Man management skills / awareness
- Newbuilds
- Notes of Protest
- Onboard accounting procedures
- Operation of cargo handling equipment
- Ordering & purchase of victuals and stores
- Personal safety, ship safety & protection of the environment
- Preparations for statutory surveys and inspection
- PSC, SIRE, ISM, ISPS and other industry inspections P & I inspections
- PTW systems, ISM requirements, risk assessment
- Refit experience
- SMS management and implementation, PPE requirements
- Team building - how to train and guide subordinates
- Variety of ports visited
- Written and spoken English to a high standard
- Class 2 Education
