Ted Blenkers - What does a Deck officer?

Deck Officers work on vessels, such as cruise ships, boats, merchant ships or any type of water vehicle that transports passengers or merchandise through oceans, coasts and inland waters. Its main responsibility includes the performance of daily operations to maintain the operability of the ship.

The Deck Officers are part of a team, in which each member is designated a crucial task to keep the vessel in top condition and to perform activities related to navigation.

Within such a team there is a hierarchy, in that sense, there are the First, Second and Third Deck Officers aboard the vessel. The range is determined based on the experience and performance of the individual.

Depending on the size of the boat, the size of the team of Deck Officers varies, there is no universal rule about the number of members it must have, so it is at the discretion of the company that owns the boat or the Captain of the ship. Deck Officers work for private corporations, such as cruise lines, water transport companies or government entities.

Here are the most common functions of a Deck Officer:

* Perform navigation tasks:
* Use the navigation equipment on board the boat.
* Keep the navigation log updated.
* Perform operations relevant to port cargo, such as planning and inventory.
* Perform maintenance of equipment intended for loading and unloading merchandise.
* Check the hull of the boat and perform maintenance or relevant arrangements:
* Keep the boat clean and organized.
* Verify that the life and fire protection equipment is in optimal condition.

In order to be able to get a job in this position, it is necessary to have had previous experience in maritime activities, such as freight transport, navigation, among others. Likewise, in the case of cruise job offers, it is also required to have a minimum of one (1) year of experience working in Customer Service, Hospitality or Tourism services.