Chief Mate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Chief Mate is the head of the deck department on a merchant vessel, second-in-command after the ship's Master (the Captain). Outside of the United States he is often referred to as First Mate, Chief Officer or "First Officer". His primary responsibilities are the vessel's cargo operations, its stability, and supervising the deck crew. He is responsible for the safety and security of the ship as well as the welfare of the crew on board as well as maintenance of the ship's hull, cargo gears, accommodations, the life saving appliances and the firefighting appliances. He also trains the crew and cadets on various aspects like safety, firefighting, search and rescue and various other contingencies.
