SHIPBOARD

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

He is the overall commander having absolute authority on board.

MASTER MARINER This absolute authority means he has the overriding decision
against the desires of the company and charterers. Of course,

/CAPTAIN
his judgment is always based on the safety of the vessel her
crew, and cargo.

CHIEF ENGINEER CHIEF OFFICER CH. STWD

He is overall in charge of engine room safety,
A chief steward is the highest-ranking member of the galley
machinery operation, maintenance, bunkering, and department. He directs and supervises the planning and
technical administration. preparation of meals. Moreover, he is responsible for cost control
The Chief Officer is the Master’s second in
Specifically, he pays very much attention to the and requisition of provisions.
command. He is the person to take over the
paperwork, checklists, and managerial tasks within

CH.COOK
control of the ship whenever the Master is
his departments. He answers directly to the Captain.
incapacitated.
A Chief Cook’s job is to prepare and cook the meals for the crew.
He maintains the cleanliness and orderliness inside the galley and
the provision room.

SECOND ENGINEER SECOND OFFICER

He is the Executive Officer of the ship’s Engine
Department. MESSMAN
Since the Chief Engineer is buried with paperwork, He is the navigational officer, his main duty
the Second Engineer does the planning, scheduling, revolves around the bridge. He is in charge of His area of expertise is inside the Mess hall where he keeps it
clean and orderly. Before meals, he sets the table prepares the
delegating, and directing of the maintenance plan fixing the voyage plans, chart corrections, and plates, utensils, and chairs, and ensures that the ketchup is not
inside the engine room. publication updates. empty.
He is also in charge of washing the dishes and filling the fridge
with milk, juice, yogurt, bread, and other beverages that the crew
ETO THIRD OFFICER needs.

An ETO’s job includes UMS test schedules, alarm

tests (fire, smoke, heat), battery checks, and
refrigeration and air-conditioning units. His duty also includes updating the Muster list
and assigning the crew’s duties and
responsibilities during emergencies. Like the
second officer, his job also involves cargo
operations, ballasting operations, and

THIRD ENGINEER mooring/ unmooring of the ship. You can find the rank of a Pumpman in

He is responsible for the general maintenance of the

PUMPMAN tanker ships. A Pumpman assists the Chief
Officer during loading, discharging, and
machinery and equipment. Under the supervision of crude oil washing. Additionally, his duty
the 2nd Engineer, he ensures that there are sufficient
bunkers in the day tanks. His work includes the BOSUN also involves assisting in ballasting, de-
ballasting, inerting, purging, gas-freeing,
upkeep of the main proportion, engines, boilers, and The Bosun is the head of the unlicensed
diesel generators as per the Planned Maintenance
and tank washing.
deck department. With direct supervision
System (PMS). His responsibilities revolve around the
from the Chief Officer, his main duty is to
deck area with the cooperation of Bosun
keep good maintenance of the ship’s hull.
and other deck crew.
The Bosun’s job revolves around the deck
FOURTH ENGINEER area. After getting the job order of the day
from the Chief Mate, he usually delegates
His day starts with a toolbox meeting with the other
engineers and crew. The Second Engineer normally the tasks to the deck crew.
gives him the job for the day. The ABs are usually the ones steering the vessel during pilotage. They

AB
As the lowest engineer ranking on board, some of his are either watchkeepers or day workers. As watchkeepers, they are
duties include the maintenance of purifiers, air
partnered with the deck officers respectively.
compressors, sewage treatment, and general
maintenance.
They are the ones doing all the maintenance jobs on deck like chipping,

FITTER
buffing, painting, washing, and greasing. Together with the Bosun, they
-Their expertise includes riveting,
grinding, welding, drilling, and the do the nitty-gritty jobs like climbing and entry into enclosed spaces.
use of lathe machines. They are very

OS
good at assembling, disassembling,
reassembling, and building new An ordinary seaman is not allowed to steer the ship even if they have

MTM/OLR
parts of a machine. the necessary certificates. He is also not permitted to perform working
-A Motorman or Oiler’s job includes
inspection and maintenance of aloft and tank entries.
pumps, motors, turbines, and However, he is permitted to do those things with the direct supervision
condensers on board. His care for
this equipment involves greasing, of a responsible crew or an officer.

WIPER DECK CADET

lubricating, de-rusting, and painting
if necessary.
-The wiper is in charge of the A Deck Cadet’s duties depend on the culture of the ship. On some
general cleanliness of the engine
room, engine workshop, and engine
vessels, he spends his time mostly on deck doing maintenance together
control room. with the ratings.

ENGINE CADET
Meanwhile, some ships assign deck cadets only on the bridge. Still, a
A cadet must absorb the learning he encounters in his work. He
is a trainee to become an engineer even though his rank is few follow the program laid out in their Training Record Book.
below the engine department’s organizational diagram.