Responsibility as chief officer Flashcards
Where do your responsibilities come from as a chief officer
Statatory Instruments Merchant shipping acts International conventions Job description Safety management system
Role of chief officer
Security Officer Safety Officer Cargo Officer Survey + Audits Watchkeeper Stability Crew Management Maintenence of deck Purchasing
What are your responsibilities as Chief Officer?
As a senior officer, assist the Master in impplementing the company, safety and envirnomental policy.
Ensure the safety management system is understood and underpins all work activity.
Ensure a systematic approach to work is taken to ensure the vessel is at all times in a seaworthy condition
What is the safety and environmental policy?
It is Company’s Policy to promote Safety at Sea, Prevention of Human Injury or Loss of Life and avoidance of damage to the Environment, in particular to the Marine Environment and to Property
Name some systems of work
Risk assesment Permit to work Lashing plan Ballast plan Fresh water management plan
How can you ensure the vessel meets flag state requirements with regard to certification
Through policy, procedure and ensuring documentation is completed and filed for inspection
How would you establish a planned maintenance system?
As per manufacturer’s instruction and international convention. The planned maintenance system should reflect this
How often would you establish drills
As per statatory instrument, stated in SOLAS, and company policy
Where would you find guidance regarding ship stability calculations?
Load line survey, ship stability book.
How does the safety management system underpin every operation?
Because the SMS has been derived from international law and operations have been thought out safely and consistantly using a risk assessed based approach
What conventions do our responsibilities come from?
SOLAS MARPOL MLC Loadline STCW Ballast Water Convention Nairobi London
Why and how do we follow marine conventions
Member states agree to legislation and conventions, in the UK a Statory instruments is created to make it law: Merchant shipping notice. MGN explains to the company how to incorporate the law into the safety management system to ensure it is followed by the ship.
How to keep certification up to date
- Convention ratified
- Passed onto member states and ratified
- Ship surveyed + cert issued (Interim surveys too)
- Ship staff to ensure cert requirements complied with (SMS)
- Control measures in place to ensure certificate is complied with (Port state)
Chief officers job to know when the certificates are due for renewal
Joining ship for first time, what are we looking for with regards to the loadline?
Legible and not overloaded - shows complience with the loadline convention.
May give an indication if the planned maintence system is adhered to i.e. rusting and old paint.
Joining ship for first time, what are we looking for with regards to the mooring arrangements?
Lines are well tended, shows crew attitude to good seamanship and knowledge of high and low water times.
Condition of the mooring ropes can give an indication that mooring lines are reguarly inspected and replaced where required.
Joining ship for first time, what are we looking for with regards to the gangway?
There must be safe means of access. Gangway being correctly rigged shows compliance with the Merchant Shipping Act (1995)
Joining ship for first time, what are we looking for with regards to arriving at the top of the gangway
Greeted by crew dressed in full PPE, ID challenged, recorded in visitors log given access pass and escorted to bridge/ CO.
This shows whether the ship has good health and safety culture and is complying with ISPS
Joining ship for first time, what are we looking for with regards to being escorted to the bridge/office
General house keeping. Note IMO signage condition, marking escape routes/ muster point, and LSA/FFE looks in good condition. Shows the vessel is well maintained and general attitude of safety officer/ 3rd mate
Joining ship for first time, what would you expect to see on the Notice board
Company safety and environmental protection policy, health and safety policy
DPA details, SSO details,
complaints procedure,
muster list,
fleet circulars highlighting recent safety issues/ reminders,
safety meeting minutes,
crew work schedule, …
all these things will give an idication how well the company is run
What is included on the muster list?
Different alarm signals Roles in the event of emergency Substitutions for personel Person responsible for LSA and FFE. Master's signature
