Ranks And Jobs On Board Ship

 

Ships are generally organised into three departments (Deck, Engineering and Stewards). Though not all ships will have all these positions and some ships will have more than those listed here:

1️⃣ Deck department

Officers:

• Master = the captain of a ship

• Chief Officer / Chief mate = head for the Deck Department

• Second Officer =  typically the ship's navigator

• Third Officer = safety offcer who does the 8-12 watch

• Boatswain = a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew

Unlicensed mariners:

• Able seaman

• Ordinary Seaman = learner

2️⃣ Engineering department

Officers:

• Chief engineer

• Second Engineer /First assistant engineer = supervises engine department

• Third Engineer / second assistant engineer = responsible for boilers, fuel, fuel, auxiliary engines, condensate, and feed systems

• Fourth (Fifth) Engineer / Junior engineer = responsible for assisting the chief engineer and the second and third engineers in maintaining and operating the machinery and systems on board

Unlicensed mariners:

• Marine Oiler = helps maintain engines

• Greaser = a motor mechanic or unskilled engineer on a ship

• Wiper = an employee of the engine room 

• Utilityman = a man available for service in various positions

• Machinist

• Tankerman = a seaman who is a qualified member of a crew of a tanker(=ship for carrying liquids)

3️⃣ Steward’s department

• Chief steward = the head of the Food Service Division and is responsible for all food service operations, and the management, sanitation, discipline, and training for up to 100 personnel within the Food Service Division

• Chief Cook = sailor responsible for food

• Stewards assistant

(On a cargo ship all three of these jobs are usually done by unlicensed mariners)

• Purser = officer in charge of accounts