The First Mate is responsible for the ship’s deck department, cargo, and crew welfare. They oversee navigation, safety, and crisis situations, and are licensed seamen with varying requirements.
A First Mate, also known as a Chief Mate, First Officer or Chief Constable, is a type of officer on merchant ships. The first mate is responsible for the ship’s deck department, manages the ship’s cargo, and is responsible for the welfare of the ship and crew. The first mate usually watches eight hours a day. If the ship does not have a crew captain, the first mate is also second-in-command to the ship’s captain.
While on watch, the first officer is directly responsible for the ship’s operations and safety. He or she oversees navigation to ensure the ship avoids hazards like other ships and stays on course. His presence also ensures that an experienced sailor is already on the bridge if an unexpected crisis occurs.
The First Mate is responsible for safety on board the ship and provides assistance in crisis situations such as fires, medical emergencies and loss of stability. He or she assesses damage after a collision or other accident, commands the ship’s fire and damage control teams, and oversees relief procedures if there is a person on board or if another ship is in distress. He or she must know how to operate lifeboats, thermal protection and other emergency equipment and is trained in sea survival should it become necessary to abandon ship.
The first mate is responsible for loading and unloading the ship’s cargo and for its care while at sea. This has potentially serious implications for ship safety, as cargo that has not been properly stowed can throw the ship off balance and cause it to capsize, especially in turbulent conditions. He is also responsible for the safe transport and storage of cargo that is dangerous in other ways, such as toxic or flammable materials.
A first mate is a licensed seaman and holds a principal chief license from at least one country, the requirements of which vary by jurisdiction. In the US, a sailor must first attend an approved marine training institution or serve at least three years in the deck department of an ocean-going vessel, including at least six months as a quartermaster, seaman or boatswain and take a required set of courses. After passing the licensing exam, he or she becomes a Licensed Third Mate. He or she must serve at least one year as a licensed third mate to qualify for a second mate license and then serve at least one year as a licensed second mate and pass a set of qualifying tests to receive a mate license main. In some jurisdictions, he or she must also have a master’s license to qualify to take command if the captain is incapacitated.
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