C/O and Ship's Maneuvering C/O and Cargo Operation
Supervision of Deck Jobs
Special Jobs on Deck
Safety and Security of Ship
Whenever you walk the gangway to climb up the the ship, the first person you would generally meet is the chief officer.
This can be further confirmed by the fact that he/she'd be surrounded by Ship Chandlers, Cargo representatives, Loading captain, Shore Safety Inspectors, Terminal Representatives, and
Technicians, or engrossed in cargo calculations.
The chief officer would also be found busy signing invoices, assigning security teams, reviewing
service reports, and delegating jobs to deck crew, officers and cadets.
Chief officer is the rank next to captain onboard ships and thus his/her authority is second in command.
Chief officer has to diligently understudy all the manoeuvrings characteristics of the vessel and in case the captain is incapacitated or disabled, he/she is to take over the command of the vessel and thus safely navigate to the nearest port.
This responsibility places the chief officer in a highly critical role and sometimes during
emergencies, he/she will have to act in accordance with consultation of the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Chief Engineer. It is therefore
imperative for the chief officer to closely follow and learn from the maneuvers carried out by the captain during anchoring, approaching ports, berthing and un-berthing operations.
A well read officer with regards to turning circle, stopping distance, crash stop distances etc. can maneuver a vessel effectively even in adverse
Chief Officer
Role of Chief Officer
in Maneouvering
conditions of currents and winds in various inland waterways, open sea harbors, approaches to Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) or river passages etc.
For thorough understanding of maneuvering diagram, the chief officer can refer to :
• “The Ship Handlers Guide by Capt. R. W.
Rowe (N.I)”
• “Bridge Procedures Guide by International Chamber of Shipping”
• “International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG 1972)”
• “Perils at Sea and Salvage – A Guide for Masters by ICS & ICIMF”
• “Bridge Team Management” by Capt. A. J.
Swift (N.I.)”
or attending Ship handling simulator courses as per guidelines stated in Table A-II/2 of STCW Code 1995.
Over and above this, it is prudent on chief officer’s behalf to be well versed with captain’s Duties and Responsibilities which have been prescribed in the Shipboard Management System Manuals. These manuals are company specific but in line with the ISM Code 2010.
Ship under maneuvering
Chief Officer in Cargo Control Room
Various stages of cargo operations require expertise and presence of a chief officer in handling, overseeing the associated machinery, cranes, verifying stowage & segregation of
dangerous goods as per IMDG, preventing shifting of cargo, avoiding over/under pressurization of tanks, pressure surges in lines and seizing or over- heating of pump casing due to dry running. his/her presence in also a measure included in the
contingency procedures. Commercial Relevance: A number of charterers stipulate in their voyage orders regarding the
combined and individual experience of captain and Chief Officer in rank.
For e.g . Chevron states that for handling certain crude oils the mate must have minimum 3 months of COW, or captain and mate should at least have completed combined 2 months onboard or they must have some prior experience of handling crude oils.
Rank experience is a prerequisite and a major factor in charterers booking their cargoes with various ship owners and ship managers.
Role of Chief Officer in Cargo Operations
Cargo Operation
“A mate should be well versed in
troubleshooting and limitations of machinery associated with cargo work. Each and every machinery onboard cannot be assured to work
with 100% efficiency and reliability, but with apt knowledge about his vessel and machinery
he can certainly perform well in adverse situations, which can jeopardises the safety and
efficiency of cargo work.”
– Chief Officer Manumaan Singh, British Petroleum.
Loading and Unloading of Cargo
SOLAS CHAPTER VI, Carriage of cargoes, Regulation 5 stipulates cargo, cargo units to be loaded, stowed and secured so as to prevent the damage to the vessel, persons onboard, or to prevent any loss of cargo overboard.
It also mentions mandatory precautions to be taken while loading and transporting heavy cargo or cargoes with abnormal physical dimensions.
Freight containers are not to be loaded beyond the maximum gross weight indicated on the Safety Approval plate under the international Convention for Safe Containers (CSC).
Ro-Ro ships, general cargo and heavy lift vessels are required to load, stow and secure the cargo throughout the voyage
SOLAS CHAPTER VI, Carriage of cargoes, Part B, Regulation 6 states that concentrates should only be accepted for loading when the actual moisture content of the cargo is less than its Transportable Moisture Limit ( TML ).
Loading plan : A loading plan is a sequential set of instructions complied and prepared by the officer in-charge of cargo operations which is mostly chief officer.
The plan is prepared with due diligence, keeping in mind all operations involved and possible emergencies. The plan serves as a useful tool in preventing the hazards caused by negligence and failure to follow procedures.
Even though all shipping companies have
contingency procedures and guidelines prescribed
FRAMO Cargo Pump System
in their safety management system manuals, the cargo plan is of much importance as it is ship specific and has minute details of measures and sequences.
The loading plan is reviewed, discussed and signed by all other officers onboard including captain.
The plan comprises of detailed and step-by-step instructions of various stages involved in the cargo
transfer. It specifies the record and measure of stre sses, GM, Righting lever, drafts, trim, propeller
immersion etc.
Critical stages such as commencement and
completion of unloading or loading of cargo, checking cargo manifests, loading / unloading of holds, ballasting / de-ballasting, changeover of pumps, tanks, stripping of cargo tanks, educting, and crude oil washing require additional
precautions and personnel.
In these stages, the Chief Officer's presence is of great significance and mandatory in most of the stages.
The plan also specifies personnel on watch and their duties while the cargo operations are taking place, along with requirement of additional
personnel and trainees and when to call them.