Merchant Vessel Ship Jobs

There are three main job sections or roles on a merchant vessel: the deck officers, the engineers, and the stewards. Each of these departments plays a specified role to sail huge merchant ships and move commerce around the world. Should sailors fail to execute their ship jobs, then the other sailors’ lives and their own and millions worth of commerce on the merchant vessel will be put to risk. That’s why all hands on deck are required to stay sharp mentally and physically to face whatever challenge the ocean will throw at them.

The Deck Officers

The topmost position on a merchant ship is the captain’s position. The captain is responsible for the entire crew, cargo, and vessel once the ship is cleared to sail under his or her command. And when the ship has successfully returned to port, the captain’s jobs continues to submit the necessary papers and the papers for his or her next voyage. Next to the captain are the first, second, and third officers. Then there’s the cadet, boatswain, carpenter, able seaman, and ordinary seaman. The Deck Department ship jobs are responsible for the ship’s voyage along its plotted course and the safety of the crew and the cargo onboard.

The Engineering officers

The Engineering Department is responsible for the electrical and mechanical aspects of the merchant vessel. There’s also a chief engineer and second, third, and fourth engineers, cadet engineer, and qualified engine department members such as pumpman, oiler, and wiper. The Engineering Department ship jobs are responsible for running the engine room, repairing damage, and keeping the engine in tiptop shape during the entire journey. The chief engineer, assistants, and engineering cadet are licensed mariners; they are graduates of a mariner’s school specializing in ships’ engines. And the qualified Engineering Department members are skilled workers able to maintain the dirty work in the engine room.

The Steward Officers

Although most merchant ships don’t have steward officers onboard (the cook is assimilated by the Deck Department), some lucky few still have stewards to make everybody happy during the entire voyage. The steward officers include the chief steward, chief cook, and steward assistant/s responsible for preparing meals and tidying up the living quarters, bridge, and the mess hall. They’re also responsible for budgeting and ordering the amount of food needed to keep the sailors fit and happy at sea. However, in most merchant ships today, the steward officers’ ship jobs are incorporated to all deckhands except for the cook. Everybody is responsible for cleaning and making the ship habitable during the trip.

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