Chief Engineer Job/ Responsibilities

Chief Engineer Officer:

Organization Links & Reporting Lines

The Chief Engineer is a Senior Officer, Head of the Engineering Department and permanent member of the

vessel’s Shipboard Management Committee is responsible to the Master and Company for the safe and

efficient operation and maintenance of all propulsion, auxiliary and deck machinery, electrical equipment, air

conditioning, domestic installations, boilers, fittings and structure within or outside the machinery or boiler

spaces and such other items which may be detailed by Company instruction from time to time.

Reports to: Master.

Directs: Engine Room Department work force & multipurpose crew assigned to Engine Room service.

Works with: Ship Management Committee.

Position duties and Responsibilities

To familiarize himself and ensure full compliance of all subordinate personnel with the Policies and Procedures

of the Company’s SMS.

To ensure that all engineering operations are conducted in accordance with the Company’s Environmental

and Safety and Health policies described in HSSEQ Manual.

To ensure the safe and efficient operation of the propulsion, manoeuvring and power generating plants and of

all Engine Room auxiliary machinery.

To keep in close touch, work in close harmony and consult at least daily with the Master in order to achieve the

maximum economy consistent with the maximum efficiency required of the machinery under his charge.

Before taking over, he must satisfy himself as to quantities of bunkers, lube oil and water remaining on board.

To carry out personally, when in possession of appropriate certificate, all survey works according to

Classification Society Regulations, and to ensure full compliance with all Class rules regarding surveys and re-certification.

The Chief Engineer is responsible for ensuring that the Continuous Survey of Machinery is progressed

regularly and that suitable opportunities are taken to ensure that it is always up to date.

To diagnose machinery and equipment faults, providing for corrective actions, and keeping the Master

informed of such occurrences.

To supervise and provide for the maintenance and repair of all vessel’s structures, machinery, systems and

equipment.

To supervise and provide for the anti-corrosion treatment of all spaces, structures, machinery and equipment

of the E/R and related machinery spaces.

To provide at all times for the seaworthiness of the vessel, the safety of personnel and the safety and

protection of the environment, whilst operating or performing maintenance or repair works on structures,

machinery and equipment.

To take personal charge of the operation of propulsion plant and other E/R systems and auxiliaries during

navigation or maneuvering in critical operations, as required in the applicable Company Procedures.

To assist the Master and the Emergency Response Team in the co-ordination of emergency response actions.

To keep the Master fully informed on the effective condition of all vessel’s structure, machinery, systems and

equipment.

To report promptly to the Master any failure or malfunction of equipment that may endanger the safety and

efficiency of the vessel or the safety of any crew member.

To ensure that telegraph and other orders from the bridge are carried out promptly during maneuvering

periods.

To keep the Master promptly and fully advised of any occurrence in the Engine Room which might affect the

navigation or the essential services under his control.

To report to the Master any facts related to personnel that may compromise the vessel’s efficiency, safety or

welfare.

To attend Shipboard Management Committee meetings and deputize for the Master in his absence.

To assist the Shipboard Management Committee in the formulation of realistic work and voyage plans.

To participate in the vessel’s Audits, according to the applicable Procedures.

To attend Emergency Response Team and Safety Committee meetings.

To ensure at all times full compliance with statutory, local, national and international laws, regulations and

requirements applicable to the vessel and the crew.

To issue written Standing Orders and Instructions, in a clear and simple manner, within the limits defined in the

SMS, including his specific requirements for manning the engine room. Both when manned or unmanned.

To implement, in the Engineering Department, clear lines of communication and well-defined job assignments

to achieve the optimum overall efficiency of the available work force.

To assist and contribute to the disciplinary system on board, ensuring that all personnel in E/R work force

abide by the disciplinary code.

To ensure the full compliance of all E/R work force with the Company’s Drug and Alcohol policy.

Responsible to the Master for the discipline of all his staff.

To ensure and provide for the familiarization of all E/R Officers and Ratings with Procedures, Rules and

Regulations related to their jobs.

To ensure the adherence of E/R Officers and Ratings to safe working practices.

To plan and monitor the training of subordinates and engineering cadets.

To assist the other Shipboard Management Committee Meetings, Emergency Response Team and Safety

Committee members in the training of the crew on safety and environment protection matters.

To ensure the improvement and maintenance of a good working and social environment in the E/R Department

based on a healthy cooperation between Officers and crew.

To assist the other Ship Management Committee members in the achievement and maintenance of a healthy

working and social environment in the whole vessel, based in mutual respect and friendly cooperation amongst

all crew members.

To assist the Master in the regulation of vessel’s budgetary control system regarding port expenditure,

purchasing of spares and stores and other shipboard services.

To carry out the performance appraisal of E/R Officers and Ratings.

To superintend the bunkering of the vessel and ensure that the ordered quantity and grade is received, and

that representative samples are taken.

To ensure that no transfer of fuel or water will be done at any time, without the agreement of the Chief Officer,

other than daily supplies of fuel oil and diesel for settling tanks.

To ensure the existence of sufficient quantities on board for the intended passage, regarding bunkers,

lubricants and feed water, of a quality suitable for the installed plant.

To closely monitor the stocks and consumption related to bunkers, lubricants, water, etc., to ensure the most

economic performance of vessel’s machinery and detect with anticipation any non-conformity.

To ensure the existence of adequate quantity and quality of spares on board and provide for the requisition in

due time of spares to maintain vessel’s stock at adequate levels to comply with Class requirements and to

assist predictable maintenance and repair works.

To regulate the deployment and monitor the performance of the E/R work force.

To regulate the deployment and monitor the performance of the multipurpose crew assigned to E/R service, in

conjunction with other members of the Ship Management Committee.

To regulate the deployment and supervise the activities of any flying squad assigned to the Engineering

services or E/R spaces.

To supervise the performance of shore contractors in accordance with Company Procedures.

To prepare and ensure the permanent updating of the vessel’s Dry-docking & Special Survey Repair List.

To assist the Fleet Technical Superintendent in the preparation of repair and dry-dock work lists.

To take personal charge of bunkering operations, including reception of bulk lubricants.

To control the standards of cleanliness of all spaces, structures, machinery and equipment of the E/R and

related machinery spaces.

To issue and/or to sign, under the Master’s express delegation of authority, commercial documents related with

bunkering operations, excepting those which, by its nature, are the sole responsibility of the Master.

To ensure the updating and maintenance of Engine Room Log & Record Books, Oil Record Books and

vessel’s Planned Maintenance System

To ensure that the‘Standing Orders’, together with all relevant Company circulars, notifications and other

instructions relating to the Engine Room Department are carefully studied and initialed by all Engineer Officers

on duty, a written night order book is to be kept. Entries to be made every day.

To ensure the updating and maintenance of accurate engineering records on the existence and consumption

of bunkers, feed water, lubricants and chemical products.

To ensure the updating and maintenance of accurate engineering records of planned maintenance system.

To ensure the maintenance of records related to defect, repair and dry dock work lists.

To ensure the maintenance of accurate records regarding stocks and consumption of spares for all ship’s

equipment, as well as E/R stores and other E/R consumable items.

To ensure that when the vessel is in port, that either he, or the First Engineer Officer remains on board.

Personal Conduct

As a senior Officer and Head of Department, the Chief Engineer must, in his working and social behavior,

constitute an example of competency and irreproachable conduct for his subordinates. To transmit such image,

the Chief Engineer shall endeavor his best efforts to:

Demonstrate loyalty and trustworthiness to his superiors;

Avoid any signs of weakness that may endanger or diminish his authority;

Avoid signs of alarm and anxiety when dealing with difficult situations as this may be contagious and result in

the reducing of the crew morale;

Deal with his subordinates with scrupulous fairness, showing concern for their welfare, and avoiding any

attitudes showing discrimination in any respect;

Issue clear and reasonable orders which do not endanger in excess the personal safety of any crew member;

Avoid actions or conduct that may be considered as abuse of power;

Set high standards of appearance and encourage the same high standards in others.

Ensure that Planned Maintenance System is always updated.