The chief officer — chief mate, or simply "chief" on deck — is second in command after the master and the head of the deck department. If the master is the one who decides, the chief officer is the one who makes the ship work: cargo, stability, maintenance and the deck crew all run through this rank. This guide covers the duties, a typical day, how the job changes by vessel type, the documents, the interview and the step to master.
What the chief officer does
- Cargo. Loading and discharge plans, stowage, lashing, hold or tank preparation and the documents that go with them. On a tanker the chief officer is usually the cargo officer; on a container ship, the dangerous goods and the stowage plan go across the chief officer's desk.
- Stability and ballast. Calculations before and during cargo operations on the loading computer, longitudinal strength, draft and trim, and ballast water management under the BWM Convention.
- The deck crew. Plans the bosun's and the ABs' work, the planned maintenance system for hull, hatch covers, mooring and cargo gear, and the work and rest hours of the deck team.
- Watchkeeping. Usually keeps the 04:00–08:00 and 16:00–20:00 watches — dawn and dusk, when star sights were once taken.
- Safety. On many ships the chief officer is the safety officer, leads the emergency party in drills, controls permits for enclosed spaces and hot work, and is often in charge of medical care on board.
- Second in command. Takes over if the master cannot act, and is the master's right hand during inspections and vetting.
A typical day
- 04:00–08:00: the morning watch on the bridge.
- 08:00: a short meeting with the bosun: the day's jobs, who does what, which permits are needed.
- Day: rounds of the deck, maintenance records, cargo planning for the next port, paperwork for the office.
- 16:00–20:00: the evening watch.
In port the rhythm turns around: cargo work runs day and night, and the chief officer shares the cargo watches with the other officers, signs the ship–shore checklists and takes the decisions when the plan meets reality.
Differences by vessel type
- Tankers: cargo calculations, inert gas, crude oil washing on crude carriers, tank cleaning, ship–shore safety checklists and vetting. The chief officer's tanker endorsement is not a formality — it is the job.
- Gas carriers: cargo systems, cooling down and warming up tanks, boil-off — a separate endorsement and a long learning curve.
- Bulk carriers: hold cleaning and inspections, loading sequences that respect the hull's strength, draft surveys with the surveyor.
- Container ships: the stowage plan, lashing, dangerous goods segregation, reefer containers, very short port stays.
- Offshore: deck cargo, crane operations and work close to installations, often with DP.
Certificates and documents
- Certificate of competency, chief mate unlimited (STCW II/2, 3,000 GT or more) — revalidated every five years.
- GMDSS General Operator's Certificate.
- Flag endorsements (STCW I/10) for the flags you will serve under.
- Medical certificate — valid for at most two years.
- Basic Training refreshers every five years.
- ECDIS generic and type-specific, ERM/BRM, Medical Care; for tankers and gas carriers the advanced cargo endorsement; often Ship Security Officer.
What it takes
Under STCW Regulation II/2, a chief mate's certificate for ships of 3,000 GT or more requires an officer-of-the-watch certificate and at least 12 months of approved sea service — in practice, time as second or third officer. It is a management-level certificate: your administration's exams come on top, together with courses such as Medical Care, ERM/BRM and ECDIS.
The path
Usually after one or two contracts as second officer. Companies like to promote from their own fleet: someone who already knows the vessel type, the procedures and the superintendents. From chief officer, the step to master needs the master's certificate, and under STCW at least 12 months as chief officer opens the shorter 24-month route.
Contracts and rotation
Chief officers usually sail four to six months, sometimes shorter on fleets that rotate senior officers more often. MLC 2006 limits the time on board before repatriation to less than 12 months, and the rest-hour rules — at least 10 hours in 24 and 77 in seven days — are a real challenge for a chief officer in a busy port. Planning the cargo watches to stay compliant is part of the job.
Interview questions for a chief officer
- "Walk me through your last loading plan." Sequence, stresses, ballast, final drafts.
- "What does the loading computer show you, and what do you do if it fails?"
- "How do you prepare holds / tanks for the next cargo?" Cleaning, inspection, who signs off.
- "What are the steps of an enclosed space entry?" Permit, ventilation, gas testing, the attendant, rescue equipment.
- "What did your last vetting / PSC inspection find on deck?"
- "How do you plan maintenance with a small crew?"
Common mistakes
- Claiming cargo experience you do not have. A tanker chief officer is checked on cargo operations in detail; it shows within minutes.
- No endorsement for the type. Without the advanced tanker or gas endorsement, a tanker company cannot hire you as chief officer.
- Rest hours that do not add up in your records — inspectors look at them, and so do companies.
- A CV that lists ships but not cargoes. For this rank, what you carried matters as much as where.
FAQ
How long from second officer to chief officer?
Usually one or two contracts as second officer, once the chief mate's certificate is in hand.
Does the chief officer keep a watch?
On most merchant ships yes, the 04–08 watch; on some large ships with an extra officer the chief officer is a day worker.
Who is the safety officer on board?
It depends on the company; on many ships it is the chief officer.
What is the difference between chief officer and chief mate?
None — they are two names for the same rank.
Pay and jobs
The chief officer is usually the second-highest-paid on deck, with a clear step up from second officer. The current range from real vacancies is on the chief officer jobs page; a comparison by rank and vessel type is on our salaries page.
Your CV
For a chief officer, crewing desks look at the cargoes handled, vessel types and sizes, and vetting experience on tankers. The maritime CV puts these first, and the tanker template brings the endorsements to the top.
Requirements follow STCW and MLC 2006; your flag state may add its own. Check them with your maritime administration.