Deck officer

The deck department is an organisational team on-board naval and merchant ships. The department and its manning requirements, including the responsibilities of each rank are regulated within the STCW Convention. The department is led by Deck Officers, who are Licensed mariners and they are commanded overall by the ships Captain.

The Deck department is divided into Deck Officers and Ratings. All ranks in the deck department are required to have undertaken training in accordance with the STCW Convention. For Officers this involves the passing of an exam to receive a certificate of competency, the level of understanding and certification varies according to ship size. All ranks are required to have undertaken generic maritime training, which usually involves time at sea and time in an approved college. International standards under the STCW Code set out the minimum requirements for training, however individual nations also have their own maritime training regulations. For example, in the United Kingdom the Maritime and Coastguard Agency ensure that the deck department receive training and examinations in order to assume the responsibilities of their rank at sea. All seafarers of the deck department are also required to have undertaken a series of short course training, in various elements under the STCW Convention. This includes general security, safety and lifeboat training, as well as vessel specific training, such as operations in the Polar regions and on tankers.

While the Master or Captain is in overall command of the ship, the chief mate is the head of the deck department. This involves administrative tasks such as scheduling work, quality control, coordinating with other departments, and conflict resolution. The Chief Mate also compiles supply, overtime, and cost control records, and requisitions or purchases stores and equipment. Depending on the number of officers carried, he may or may not be a watch officer. If the ship carries a Second Mate and two Third Mates, he will be a dayworker, with a duty day from 0800 to 1700 ship's time. If only one Third Mate is carried, he will stand the 4 to 8 watch in addition to handling his executive duties.

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