Deck department

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The Deck Department is an organizational unit aboard naval and merchant ships.

[edit] Merchant shipping

The deck department is responsible for safely receiving, discharging, and caring for cargo during a voyage.

The main work of the deck department is proper watchstanding and the maintenance of the ship's hull, cargo gear, and accommodations as well as the ship's life saving and firefighting appliances.

A typical deck department for a merchant ship would include:

(1) Chief Officer/Chief Mate
(1) Second Officer /Second Mate
(1) Third Officer / Third Mate
(0-1) Boatswain
(2-6) Able Seamen
(0-2) Ordinary Seamen

Depending on the size and employment of the ship, a boatswain may be employed. If carried, the boatswain, generally a senior able seaman will act as a foreman of the ship's deck crew and as the chief mate's representative on deck.

The chief mate is the head of the deck department. This involves administrative tasks such as scheduling work, quality control, coordinating with other departments, and conflict resolution. The chief mate also compiles supply, overtime, and cost control records, and requisitions or purchases stores and equipment.

Due to IMO regulations, larger cargo and passenger ships generally carry at least three able seamen and may carry ordinary seamen.

The ship's other deck officers, generally a Second Mate and Third Mate are also members of the deck department.

Other shipboard departments typically include the engine department and the steward's department.

[edit] Naval usage

In the military, the deck department is comprised of sailors who perform maintenance and upkeep on the ship and are knowledgeable in basic seamanship. Undesignated seamen, or those who have not selected a rating (e.g. job or vocation), are normally the most junior sailors onboard and are usually sent to the Deck Department for their first assignment.

The Deck Department is led by boatswain mates, sailors who have chosen seamanship as their primary area of expertise. The First Lieutenant serves as the Deck Department's division officer while the Operations Officer serves as the department head, reporting directly to the ship's Commanding Officer.

[edit] See also

Nautical Portal

		Typical ship transport occupations
←Junior Unlicensed				Senior→ Licensed
Deck:	Ordinary Seaman	Able Seaman	Boatswain • Carpenter	3rd Mate • 2nd Mate • Chief Mate	Captain • Pilot
Engine:	Wiper • Oiler	QMED	Electrician	3rd Engr • 2nd Engr • 1st Engr	Chief Engineer
Steward:	Steward's Assistant	Chief Cook	Chief Steward	Purser