What is Chief Officer Responsibility for Cargo Operation ?

Under the supervision of the Master the Chief Officer is responsible for:

• The preparation of the cargo plan in compliance with the voyage orders.
• The checking of the cargo system to ensure that the intended plan will be followed.
• The preparation of ship’s cargo system and spaces for intended cargo.
• The monitoring of all cargo and ballast operations on board and personal supervision of commencement and completion of these operations.
• The operation and control of all cargo equipment.
• Producing his own written standing orders concerning the cargo operations which are to be well understood and signed by each Deck Officer.
• The monitoring of the vessel’s stress and stability throughout the cargo and ballast operations and during the voyage to ensure that they remain within the required limits.
• The maintenance of cargo records as required by the Company, Charterers and International regulations.
• The calculation of the quantity on board and preparation of cargo documentation as required.
• The checking of all compartments on a daily basis and recording the sounding in the Deck Log Book.
• Ensuring that empty tanks and void spaces surrounding cargo spaces which contain flammable cargoes are tested for combustible gas as far as practicable on a daily basis, and the results are recorded in the Deck Log Book.
• For monitoring of toxic gases vapour concentration in ship’s compartments as required.
• Maintaining the records in conjunction with the Chief Engineer as required.
• Applying the ballast water management practices and maintaining records.

You may also know master responsibility :

• Ensuring that the voyage orders are fully understood and complied with.
• Advising the Chief Engineer and Chief Officer of the relevant details of intended voyage.
• Providing the Company and Charterers with accurate information regarding the cargo operations.
• Advising the Company when instructions cannot be complied with or he is unsure of the intended voyage instructions.
• Supervision of cargo system and spaces preparation including cleaning requirements.
• The Checking and verification of cargo plans prepared by Chief Officer.
• The Supervision of all cargo and ballast operations on board.
• The monitoring of the vessel’s stress and stability throughout the cargo and ballast operations and during the voyage to ensure that they remain within the required limits.
• The Completion, checking and signing as applicable of cargo documents.
• Ensuring that Hours of Work are in accordance with STCW regulations.