Chief mate

A Deck Officer (NO), also Nautical ship's officer, is a senior sailor in the merchant navy. Depending on the size of the ship, there is a First, Second, Third or Fourth NO. For larger ships, there are in addition to the nautical officers and technical officers, as the Chief Engineer or the Chief Technical Officer.

Tasks

First officer

The first officer on a ship is the one responsible for the seaworthiness of the orderly and safe loading of the ship and for the upkeep and maintenance of the deck area. He is the superior of all other nautical officers, and possibly also of the radio officer and the boatswain and the people engaged on the deck crews. In this capacity, organized and supervised the first officer to the daily operation of these areas. The first NO is immediately downstream and at the failure or absence, his deputy captain.

Second Officer

The second officer takes at sea and in port, in most cases, the tasks of navigation at the true and is responsible for the maintenance and care of the navigation equipment, including nautical charts and nautical all documents and writings. Following the instructions of the Captain plans usually the second officer to carry out the trip ( trip) of the vessel in accordance with the relevant national and international regulations.

Third and Fourth Officer

The third and possibly the fourth officer working at sea and in port as the second officer as a guard officers. In addition, the third officer is responsible for the operational readiness of fire-fighting and rescue equipment on board. It helps in the implementation of safety procedures and provides various administrative tasks.

Notwithstanding these regular assignments, the owner of the vessel to determine additional or different terms of reference for this officer ranks.

Training

The ship's officer - training ordinance regulates the training of navigational watch. It requires the successful completion of training at a maritime school or a completed technical college of nautical / maritime and ship operation and a minimum age of 18 years. With this training, tasks of nautical service on all merchant vessels, except vessels be exercised in all trade lanes. After 12 months of seagoing service as the navigational watch may be purchased that certificate " First Officer ". After another, at least 24 months as a navigational watch, or after at least 12 months as chief mate of the acquisition of the certificate of proficiency as a captain is possible. It is possible to combine the education of the technical (C- patents) and nautical (A- patents) certificates. The in both areas equally qualified crew member can then be used as a ship operating officer in overall ship operation.