Ship Organization

HOUSEKEEPING - Clean towels and linen are available at the beginning of the voyage. At the
end of the cruise, bunks should be stripped and soiled linen taken to the place designated.
Bunks should be made up daily. Public heads and passageways are cleaned by the crew. The
scientific party is responsible for cleaning science staterooms and heads and the laboratories. The
responsibility of regularly sweeping out the laboratories is assigned by the chief scientist. All
laboratories and scientific party rooms should be thoroughly cleaned before departing the vessel
at cruise end. Cleaning gear is available throughout the vessel in cleaning gear lockers; if you
can't find it, ask. Common courtesy calls for the scientific party members to pick up after
themselves. Good shipmates leave their quarters or work areas cleaner than they found them.
Fresh water is a precious commodity at sea and must not be wasted. In ports, foul harbor water
may prevent operation of desalinators, and the local fresh water may be unsafe to take aboard.
Conservation of freshwater is therefore a must. Salt water should be used on deck when possible.
"Navy" showers (i.e., rinse-soap-rinse, turning off water between times) should be practiced. Full
washer loads make best use of water.
Washing machines, laundry soap, bleach, and dryers are available. They are used on a first-
come-first-served basis. The only request is for users to do full loads of laundry so as to conserve
fresh water. Laundry detergent is provided. A laundry sack is stationed in this area to collect
soiled sheets and towels from the ship's supply. An iron is available.
The ship's sanitary system cannot handle cigar and cigarette butts, sanitary napkins, etc. Please
dispose of such items properly.
Although there is no standard for dress aboard, mature judgement and decorum are expected.
MESS HALL - The mess deck has seating for 30. This is only half of the full ship's
complement, so personnel should not loiter during or immediately after meals. Watchstanders are
customarily served first. Meal hours must be respected. Shirts and foot coverings are required at
all times in the mess hall.
Meal hours at sea are:

 Breakfast: 0730-0815

 Lunch: 1130-1215

 Dinner: 1700-1800
The mess hall is cleared 45 minutes prior to and after meal hours to allow for setup and cleanup.
Messing is cafeteria style. It is most important that all persons bus their own dishes and clean up
after themselves. When stores arrive at the ship, all hands help load.
Except in extraordinary circumstances, meals are to be eaten in the mess, not in labs. If it is
necessary to bring food into labs for important science operational reasons, bus the dirty dishes
and scraps back to the mess area afterward; do not use the lab trash containers.
Cups and glasses disappear at sea. Therefore, everyone is assigned a coffee cup and a drinking
glass, marked with their berth number. Use your own, only. If yours disappears, please look for it
before asking for a replacement; there may not be one. The chief scientist should work out with
the captain any special eating schedules for scientific watchstanders and station times.
SHIP'S CREW - The complement of 21 is the captain, 3 mates, the boatswain, 3 able seamen, 1
ordinary seaman, the chief engineer, 3 assistant engineers, 1 electrician, 4 oilers, 1 wipers, and 2
cooks.
The mates are the officers of the watch. The duty station for all operations, including station
work, is the bridge, since fantail and other weather decks may be monitored from the bridge
wings.
The assistant engineers and the electrician, if necessary, man the watch in the engine room.
When winches are required for station work, call the bridge to arrange for a winch operator.
The electrician is primarily a "day-worker," unless included in the engine room watch rotation.
The boatswain also is a "day-worker," responsible for general ship upkeep. The able seaman on
watch assists him or the officer of the watch, as required, and the A.B.'s and ordinary seaman are
primarily responsible for daily cleaning of the ship.
The boatswain will operate the ship's heavy cranes if requested. Otherwise, the resident
technician performs this task. Smaller cranes (Morgan) are normally operated by members of the
scientific party, but only after training by the resident technician.
If assistance from any crew member is needed by the scientific party, it is recommended that
such requests be routed through the officer of the watch. Requests for a winch operator should
always go to the bridge.
It should be kept in mind that requests for after-hours work by any of the crew are treated as
overtime, and should not be placed unless urgently needed, and then through the captain or chief
engineer as appropriate.
 Modern ship's complement
Captain/Master
The captain or master is the ship's highest responsible officer, acting on behalf of the ship's owner.
Whether the captain is a member of the deck department or not is a matter of some controversy, and
generally depends on the opinion of an individual captain. When a ship has a third mate, the captain
does not stand watch.
The captain is legally responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the ship as he/she is in command. It is
his/her responsibility to ensure that all the departments under him/her perform legally to the
requirements of the ship's owner. The captain represents the owner and hence is called "master".

Deck department
Officers/mates
Chief officer/Chief mate
The Chief Officer/First mate (often called the Chief mate in the United States) is the head of the deck
department on a merchant vessel, second-in-command after the ship's Master. The Chief mate's
primary responsibilities are the vessel's cargo operations, its stability, and supervising the deck crew.
The mate is responsible for the safety and security of the ship, as well as the welfare of the crew on
board. The chief mate typically stands the 4–8 navigation watch as OICNW (officer in-charge of the
navigational watch), directing the bridge team. Some crews have additional Third mates, which allow
the Chief mate to not stand navigational watch, and focus more on cargo and deck operations.
Additional duties include maintenance of the ship's hull, cargo gears, accommodations, life saving
appliances and firefighting appliances. The chief mate also trains the crew and cadets on various
aspects like safety, firefighting, search and rescue, and various other contingencies. The chief officer
assumes command of the whole ship in the absence or incapacitation of the master.

Second officer/Second mate

The Second officer/Second mate is a qualified OICNW watch stander, directing the bridge team and
navigating the ship. The Second mate is the 3rd most experienced deck department officer after the
Captain/Master and Chief mate. The Second mate's primary duty is navigational, which includes
updating charts and publications, keeping them current, making passage plans, and all aspects of
ship navigation. The Second mate's other duties may include directing line handlers, cargo watches,
directing anchor detail and training and instructing crew members.
Deck ratings / Rates
Mariners without a certificate of competence are called ratings. They assist in all other tasks that
can arise during a voyage. This includes for example, mooring, cleaning of the ship and its holds and
repairing broken lines and ropes. These are physically challenging jobs and have to be done
regardless of the weather.[2]
Boatswain(bosun)
Highly skilled in marlinspike seamanship, the Boatswain is the highest ranking unlicensed (rating) in
the deck department. The Boatswain generally carries out the tasks instructed by the Chief mate,
directing the Able seaman and Ordinary seaman. The Boatswain generally does not stand a
navigational watch.
Able seaman/AB
An Able seaman works under the Boatswain, completing tasks such as working mooring lines,
operating deck gear, standing anchor details, and working cargo. The AB also stands a navigational
watch, generally as a lookout or helmsman.
Ordinary seaman/OS
The lowest ranking personnel in the deck department. An Ordinary seaman[OS] generally helps out
with work the Able seaman are doing. Other tasks include standing lookout, and generally cleaning
duties.
Engineering department
Engineers / licensed
The engineers are also called technical officers. They are responsible for keeping the ship and the
machinery running. Today, ships are complex units that combine a lot of technology within a small
space. This includes not only the engine and the propulsion system, but also, for example, the
electrical power supply, devices for loading and discharging, garbage incineration and fresh water
generators.

Chief engineer
The chief engineer on a merchant vessel is the official title of someone qualified to oversee the
engine department. The qualification for this position is colloquially called a "Chief's Ticket".
The Chief Engineer, commonly referred to as "The chief", or just "chief", is responsible for all
operations and maintenance that have to do with all machinery and equipment throughout the ship.
He may be paid on par with the captain, although he is never responsible for the action of ship. The
chief engineer cannot assume command and the command always rests with the Captain of the
ship, unless it is clearly mentioned within the safety management system.
Second engineer/first assistant engineer
The second engineer or first assistant engineer is the officer responsible for supervising the daily
maintenance and operation of the engine department. He or she reports directly to the chief
engineer.
Third engineer/second assistant engineer
The Second Assistant is usually in charge of boilers, fuel, auxiliary engines, condensate and feed
systems, and is the third most senior marine engineer on board. Depending on usage, "the Second"
or "the Third" is also typically in charge of fueling (a.k.a. bunkering), granted the officer holds a valid
Person In Charge (PIC) endorsement for fuel transfer operations.
Fourth engineer/third assistant engineer
The fourth engineer or third assistant engineer is junior to the second assistant engineer/third
engineer in the engine department.
Engine ratings / unlicensed
Motorman
The Motorman is an unlicensed member of the engine department, with more experience than an
Oiler.
Oiler
The Oiler is an unlicensed member of the engine department, with more experience than a Wiper.
Wiper
The Wiper is an unlicensed member of the engine department, usually with the least experience.

Electro-technical department
Electro-technical officer
The electro-technical officer sometimes referred to as the electrical engineer is in charge of all the
electrical systems on the ship. The electrical engineer is one of the most vital positions in the
technical hierarchy of a ship and engineer is responsible for their assigned work under the chief
engineer’s instructions.
Unlike engineers the ETO does not carry out an assigned engine room "watch" instead they are
normally on call 24 hours a day and generally work a daily shift carrying out electrical and electronic
maintenance, repairs, installations and testing.
Some shipping companies do not carry electrical officers on their ship to cut down the manning cost,
and the electrical duties are carried by an engineer. This is usually the third engineer. However,
many companies realized that electrical and electronic system requires some extra attention and
therefore require an expert to attend them. This is especially true on diesel electric ships or vessels
equipped with systems such as dynamic positioning.
On larger vessels such as cruise ships, electrotechnical officers can have ranks within their
profession, such position names include, lead ETO, 1st Electrician, chief electrical officer or chief
electrical engineer. In this situation, the highest ranked electrotechnical officer will report directly to
the chief engineer. On special class ships such as FPSOs the electrotechnical officer can sometimes
earn nearly the same wage as a chief engineer due to the complexity of the electrical systems on the
ship.
As the technology advances, more automation and electronic circuits are replacing conventional and
electrical systems. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) amended STCW 95 (also known
as the Manila Amendment) on June 25, 2010 to introduce the certified position of Electro-technical
officer in place of Electrical officer.
With advancements in satellite communications leading to the widespread adoption of the Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System the old position of radio officer is far less common, although a
U.S. Coast Guard license is still issued for it. Ship officers may be licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission as GMDSS operators and electrical officers as GMDSS
maintainers. Morse code has not been used on French ships since 1997 and on U.S. ones since
1999 However, an FCC certificate for radiotelegraphy may still be obtained.

Steward's department
Chief steward
The chief steward directs, instructs, and assigns personnel performing such functions as preparing
and serving meals; cleaning and maintaining officers' quarters and steward department areas; and
receiving, issuing, and inventorying stores. The chief steward also plans menus; compiles supply,
overtime, and cost control records. The steward may requisition or purchase stores and equipment.
Additional duties may include baking bread, rolls, cakes, pies, and pastries.
Chief cook
The chief cook is the senior unlicensed crew member working in the steward's department of a ship.
His position corresponds to that of the Boatswain in the deck department, the pump man in an oil
tanker, and the electrician (but not ETO) in the engine department of a container ship or general
cargo ship. He is the equivalent to a chief petty officer in the Navy.
The chief cook directs and participates in the preparation and serving of meals; determines timing
and sequence of operations required to meet serving times; inspects galley and equipment for
cleanliness and proper storage and preparation of food.

Duties of Seamen in Ship's Deck Department

Officers, Bos’n, Able Seamen and Ordinary Seamen run this department

The many and varied duties of the deck department are probably the most
important and interesting aboard a merchant ship. Upon those who spend
their working hours topside falls a burden that ranges from chipping and
scaling paint to the actual navigation of the vessel.

Merchant ships differ in size and complement, but the average ship that sails
the seven seas today, bringing war material to our armies and those of our
allies, generally conforms to a single pattern of manpower. The duties of those
men also run true to form, more or less, but as the saying goes among
seamen -- “different ship, different long splice.” All of which is translated as
meaning that different ships and masters have their own way of doing things.
Generally, however, they are similar.

Starting at the bottom is the Ordinary Seaman (OS) whose duties actually
are to assist the able seaman. In reality, however, he is the deck utility man
and may be called upon to do any one of many tasks.

The ordinary may be called upon to stand a lookout, to scale and chip paint, to
paint, handle lines in the mooring of the ship, and to assist in the actual tying
up and letting go of the vessel. The ordinary also assists in the handling and
operation of all deck gear such as topping, cradling and housing of booms and
he may also be asked to aid the carpenter in repair work.
It is likely that the ordinary may be allowed to act as helmsman, to read the
draft markings or to act as cargo watch in the loading and discharging of
cargo.

Calling the watch (the awakening of men, including officers, who are slated to
go on watch, or to so remind them if they are awake) is another of the
important duties of the ordinary. He also assists in emergency drills (lifeboat,
abandon ship and fire) and keeps the passageways and heads in shipshape
condition on the 4 to 8 watch. He may also work aloft or over the side.

The Able Seaman (AB), by law, must be able to perform any deck duties
aside from the actual navigation of the vessel. In general his duties include the
ability to splice wire or fibre line, to work aloft and over the side of the ship, to
operate the deck machinery such as the windlass or winches, to paint and mix
paint, to know the principles of cargo stowage, to be a good wheelsman and
competent lookout, to overhaul and install any running or standing rigging on
the ship, and to be able to sew, repair and mend canvas.
The AB must be a competent and certified lifeboatman, able to handle a
lifeboat under oars or sail. He must know lifeboat equipment and be able to
assume the duties of the cox’n or man in charge of the lifeboat. It will also be
the duty of the AB to maintain the bridge in a clean and shipshape condition.

Next on the way up the deck department ladder is the Bo’sn (Boatswain),
senior unlicensed man on the ship. He is the direct contact between the crew
and the chief mate and he may be likened to a foreman in any industrial plant.

The Bo’s’n must be an experienced seaman and is held responsible for

anything and everything in the maintenance, care and protection of deck
equipment and deck cargo. He also supervises the securing of the ship for
sea and the loading and discharging of cargo. In addition, the Bos’n assists
the chief mate in ordering the deck stores.

The duties of the ship's Carpenter (Chips) are numerous. He is likely to be

called upon to perform work which, in many cases, is beyond that which the
term carpenter implies ashore. In short, he is both a seaman and a mechanic.

In addition to doing temporary or permanent wood construction aboard ship

with hand tools, he is responsible for the operation of the anchor windlass,
seeing that hatch wedges are driven properly, that the deck cargo is properly
lashed and that the hatch battens are in place and secure.

The carpenter also repairs blocks, keeps the lifeboat davits in good order,
builds temporary or permanent partitions, shores or braces weakened or
damaged bulkheads, rigs a collision mat, builds a soft patch in the event of
bulging or collision, replaces broken rivets and he will assume command of an
emergency crew to repair damage in event of a collision.

A Quartermaster is not a fixture on all vessels. On the larger ships, he is

primarily a wheelsman and maintains the bridge and its equipment in
shipshape order. He is conversant with signaling procedure, stands a
gangway watch in port (responsible for the safety and security of the ship as
well as escorting persons aboard who have business) and he is able to
perform the duties of an able seaman (splicing line, reaving a halyard, etc.).

“Day men,” those who work with the Bo’s’n, are usually picked for outstanding
ability. They work from 0800 to 1700 and stand no night watches. Their duties
are the maintenance of the ship, which includes operating the anchor
windlass, winches and other deck machinery.
Perched upon the "ready Splicing rope and wire are Painting is definitely on
box," the Bo's'n, who among the specific duties of the list of duties which fell
directs the daily activities the able seaman aboard a to the lot of the ordinary
of seamen in the deck vessel. Here a seaman seaman aboard ship. Two
department performs one performs one of his ordinaries are painting the
of his duties aboard ship -- specialties – splicing rope -- “fiddley,” the housing built
that of sewing and in the well-stocked Bo’sn’s around the smokestack.
mending the canvas. locker.

The Third Mate is the junior deck officer and normally stands the 8 to 12
watch. He is responsible for all life-saving equipment. In addition, the third
mate keeps the ship’s log, follows the captain’s orders, and assists in the
navigation of the vessel. In port, he will assist or supervise in the loading and
discharging of cargo. His place is on the bridge with the captain while docking.

The Second Mate, usually the navigation officer, plots courses and takes
celestial and terrestrial fixes. In peacetime he is the communications officer
but the Naval officer in charge of the armed guard crew is rapidly assuming
those duties because many of the messages now received are in secret code.
The second mate also handles the after deck when tying up. He stands the 12
to 4 watch.

The First or Chief Mate is responsible for the maintenance of the ship and
proper stowage of cargo. He handles the fore deck in tying up, is a good
navigator, a thorough seaman, possesses the necessary qualities of
leadership and will assume command of the vessel in the event of the
master’s death or inability to command the ship. He stands the 4 to 8 watch.
Second Mate, the Officer on watch may be the Radio Operator sends very
navigation officer, takes a first, second or third mate. few messages in wartime
bearing on an object with His station is up on the unless an emergency
the Pelorus. He is also the bridge and he commands arises. Mostly he monitors
communications officer but the ship in the captain’s the radio direction finder
the Naval officer in charge absence. Here he sounds and stands a watch.
of the gun crew assumes the ship’s whistle during a
that duty now. fog.

Which brings us to the Captain who is lord and master of all he surveys.
Actually his title is “Master.” He is in charge of everything and everyone
aboard ship. He must be as closely acquainted with the steward’s department
and the engine department as he is with the bridge and he must know the
reason for every job performed aboard his vessel.

It should be remembered that the Master is the agent of the company which
owns the ship and is not a member of the crew. He represents the company in
every operation of the ship under his command. His is the full responsibility of
the ship. Although he stands no watches he will always be found, in the event
of foul weather or fog, on the weather side of the bridge until the danger is
over, even though such foul weather lasts for 24, 48 or even 72 hours at a
stretch.

In any emergency the captain will be up on the bridge conning his ship,
despite the fact that he may have sunk exhausted on his bunk after a long
vigil just three hours ago.
The captain also may act in the Shipping Commissioner’s capacity in signing
off a crew after a coastwise trip. It is required of a master, as well as all his
mates, that he have a first aid certificate and be capable of administering, if
necessary, to the medical needs of the crew.

Any one of the deck officers from the Third Mate up will be in charge of any
one of the lifeboats in abandoning ship.

When a ship is at sea, the watches are usually four hours on and eight hours
off, but the crew may be broken out at any time in the event of an emergency.
While in port, watches are usually broken. The crew works from 0800 to 1700
with an hour for chow. The ordinary or able seamen agree among themselves,
as a general rule, as to which will stand the gangway watch at night.

It is important to remember that although every man in the deck department

has specific duties, he must be absolutely familiar with the duties of the men
who rank above him.

typical organization structure for a shipping

agency?
On an average the following departments constitute a normal shipping company.

(Please note that are different ways shipping companies manage their vessels; the whole
management can be done by the company and their appointed people only, or the ships
owners can lease out the technical management/general management of their ships to
technical management organizations (eg Anglo Eastern, Bernhard Schulte etc). I am
talking about the former, where the owners and their appointed team directly look after
the ships they own)

1. The Technical Team: The basic function of this team is to look after the day to day
operations of their vessels. The officers involved are called Technical Superintendents,
and they generally report to a Fleet Manager. Technical Superintendents are generally
people with considerable sea going experience, like Chief Engineers or Captains, who
know the ins and out of vessel operation. Depending on the number of vessels in the
company fleet, there can be more than one fleet manager or someone like a Technical
President. The technical team works in close cooperation with workshops which are
appointed to take care of ship repairs which the ship staff cannot manage themselves.

2.The Purchase and Procurement Team: The general work of this team is to
communicate with suppliers/ship chandlers/other organizations to connect ship
supplies all around the world, where ever the ship calls port. This team also takes
guidance and approval from the technical team, because all stores and stock items and
generally approved by the technical team.
3. The Operations team: This team is generally headed by someone like an
experienced Captain who works in close liaison with the vessel charterers (one who hires
the vessel in return of money) and instructs the vessels well in advance about what
operations they will be doing in the coming dates. They also look after things like port
clearances, appointment of local agents etc etc. They may also be given the task to
chasing the charterers for the charter fee.

4. The Finance team: As the name suggests, they handle the money; both of the
employers and of other parties like workshops, chandlers, agents etc etc. They will also
be headed by the a senior person (typically a MBA) who will be in charge of the overall
finance of the fleet operations

5. The Fleet Personnel Department: These guys looks after the recruitment and
concerns of the sailing staff. These guys have to be in touch with the ships and the
people on land to rotate crew and make sure the vessels are always manned by
competent people. They work in close cooperation with the technical team, so that the
correct person with required experience and knowledge lands up on the vessel.

6. The HSSE and training department: HSSE stands for Health Safety Security and
Environment. This department, along with fleet personnel dept, ensures that people
going on board have the correct competence required. They will also ensure that all the
required audits, memorandums with the different flags etc etc are up to date so that the
vessel or the office does not lapse with any statutory requirements.

7. The Marketing team: Vessels need to be marketed and need to be in charter so that
they make money. The marketing team does that. The owners may directly be involved
in this team.

The above mentioned department heads generally report to the ship owners who in turn
is control of the whole show.

Crew structure on board merchant vessels – deck department

Life on board of a vessel is very different from any other shore based jobs or organization. Each crew member has a
precise rank and carries certain responsibilities in order to maintain the vessel operations successful.

Mainly, the vessel’s crew has two types of seafarers: officers and ratings. Both these types of crew members have the
capacity to work either on deck or in the engine room.
The Deck crew is in charge with the vessel navigation, watch keeping, maintaining the ship’s hull, cargo, gear and
accommodation, taking care of the ship’s life saving and firefighting appliances. The deck department is also the one
in charge with receiving, discharging and caring for cargo. According to the vessel’s hierarchy, the deck officers are as
follows: Master, Chief Officer, Second Officer, Third Officer and Deck Cadet (deck officer to be).
The supreme authority on board a merchant vessel is the Master. The entire crew is under his command. He is
responsible for the safety, use and maintenance of the vessel and makes sure that every crew member carries out his
work accordingly. He is also in charge of the following: payroll, ship’s accounting, inventories, custom and immigration
regulations, and the ship’s documentation. In order to become Master, a seafarer must first have several years of
experience as a deck officer and as Chief Officer.
According to the vessel’s hierarchy, the first deck officer and the head of the deck department after the Master is
the Chief Officer or Chief Mate. He is in charge with the vessel navigation, watch duties, charging and discharging
operations. The Chief Officer also directs all the other officers on deck, creates and posts watch assignments and
implements the Master’s orders in order to maintain safe operations and maintenance of the vessel.
Second Officer or Second Mate is the next in rank after the Chief Mate and is the ship’s navigator, focusing on creating
the ship’s passage plans and keeping charts and publications up to date. Apart from watch keeping, the Second Officer
may also be designated to train the cadets on board or to fulfill the rank of security, safety, environmental or medical
officer.
The Third Officer or Third Mate is the fourth deck officer in command and is usually the Ship’s Safety Officer,
responsible with ensuring the good functioning of the fire-fighting equipment and life saving appliances. He undertakes
bridge watches and learns how to become a Second Officer.
A Cadet on board a merchant vessel receives structured training and experience on board and learns how to become
a deck officer.
Apart from the officers, the deck department crew also consists of ratings, such as AB (Able Body Seaman), OS
(Ordinary Seaman) and Boatswain.
The AB is part of the deck crew and has duties such as: taking watches, steering the vessel, assisting the Officer on
watch, mooring and unmooring the vessel, deck maintenance and cleaning. The AB also secures and unsecures the
cargo and carries our deck and accommodation patrols.
OS is the crew member whose main duty is to maintain the cleanliness of the whole ship and serves as assistant for
the AB. Being an OS is considered to be an apprenticeship, a period called “sea time” in order to be allowed to take
courses and training for AB.
Both AB and OS are usually supervised by a Boatswain, who is also a rating, in charge with examining the cargo-
handling gear and lifesaving equipment as well. The Boatswain usually holds an AB certificate as well.
The structure for the deck department on board merchant vessels is mainly the same on all vessel types.