The merchant ship and its organization

Deck department

Basic terms:

deck department - an organisational team on board naval and merchant ships
catering dept. - or galley department is responsible for preparation and serving of foods to the crew on board of a ship
manning - the process of providing people to do a job, or the number of people who are available to do a job
rating - a seaman other an officer
master - the officer in command of a merchant ship; also known as captain
chief officer - the next deck officer below master; also known as chief mate or first mate
certificate of competency - certificate issued to seafarers after passing examinations conducted to test their competency in handling ship's matters; may be divided into deck and engine categories and graded from class 5 to 1 where 1 being the highest grade
master mariner - the deck officer holding a master's certificate in a merchant ship; he is qualified to command a ship
mate - deck officer assisting a master; there may be several officers such as Chief Officer, Second Officer or Third Officer in a merchant ship
deck officer - officer in an executive department responsible for the navigation, manoeuvring and safe handling of the ship, communications between ship and shore, the handling and delivery of cargo, and the operation of all lifesaving devices
navigating officer - officers with the responsibility of piloting of seafaring vessels and determining a ship's position by means of the sun, moon, stars, landmarks, magnetic compasses, electronic radio and radar systems
boatswain - a supervisor of the seamen; one grade higher than able seaman; sometimes abbreviated as bos'n or bo'sun
carpenter - specialist in doing woodwork and maintenance on water vessels
shipwright - one skilled in the building and repair of vessels
apprentice - a person who works for another in order to learn a trade
sailor - a person who works on a ship, especially one who is not an officer
seafarer - a person who travels by sea
seamen - a sailor, especially one who is not an officer

Examples of use:

The organization of ships is changing but it is still customarily to find deck, engine-room, catering and radio departments in ships of a traditional type.
Low unemployment, a competitive job market and difficulties in recruiting and retaining sailors created the manning
General purpose manning is a system under which the ratings are deployed on duties throughout the ship.
The master gave the order to abandon ship.
It is probable that the chief officer will hold a similar qualification as the master although the law requires him to have a first mate's certificate
My father, who was a well-qualified master mariner, was unemployed for four years in the 1930s.
The expression mate and officer, when referring to deck officers, are synonymous.
At sea, navigating officers are responsible for the piloting of seafaring vessels.
They were responsible to the ship's boatswain for the supervision of the seamen in their everyday duties about the ship and practical seamanship.
Ship carpenters build and repair boats according to blueprints and client specifications.
The carpenter is usually a qualified shipwright, a man who has served his time as an apprentice, and he is able to join his first ship as a fully-fledged carpenter.
A sailor fell overboard and was rescued.
Every seafarer has a right to fair terms of employment.
Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.

Radio and engine room department

Basic terms:

radio department - section (often only one man) handling the provision of the radio
radio officer - also known as marine radio officer is the person who is responsible for all the radio communications on the ship
electronic aids - devices that facilitate the operation of electrical appliances
message - a communication containing some information, news, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, radio, or other means.
distress signal - a signal used by persons in peril, for the purpose of summoning aid, indicating their position, etc., as a radio code sign, aerial flare, flag hoist, or the like
watchkeeping - or watchstanding is the assignment of sailors to specific roles on a ship to operate it continuously
engine-room department - an organizational unit aboard a ship that is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the propulsion systems and the support systems for crew, passengers, and cargo
engineer officer - a commissioned officer responsible for the material condition of ships, submarines, and naval aircraft
chief engineer - commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and the responsibility of that department
staff - a group of persons, as employees, charged with carrying out the work of an establishment or executing some undertaking
electrical officer - an officer in charge of checking all electronic and electrical gear locally available to amplify the operational security and effectiveness of the vessel

Examples of use:

The radio-department often consists of only one man and so the term department may seem out of place.
The provision of the radio is a legal requirement and so is the carriage in vessels of a certified radio-officer.
This factsheet outlines your options when selecting an electronic aid to make it clearer and quicker to communicate.
Her manipulations are interrupted by a distress signal from a ship that has run onto the reef just off the coast.
Following the first complement job a junior officer may be further employed in bridge watchkeeping duties in ships or submarines or may sub-specialise.
The engine-room department is composed of a team of engineer officers and ratings controlled by the chief engineer, who ranks after the master.
The main engine is only one part of the work of the engine room staff.
The third engineer, who may or may not hold a certificate of competency, keeps the 2x2 watch and where an electrical officer (electrotechnical officer) is not carried usually maintains the ships electrical equipment.