THIRD OFFICER DUTIES

The Third Officer is responsible directly to the Chief Officer and

obviously the Master. He shall read and comply with the Master's standing
orders. He shall quickly make himself fully conversant with the layout and
parameters of the vessel. He shall also read and make himself thoroughly
familiar with those applicable sections of the QUALITY SYSTEM as detailed
in section QP02 of the Quality Procedures Manual to which reference should
be made. In addition to keeping the 8 - 12 navigation watch (see chapter 6)
his principle duties, outside of port, shall concern the maintenance of the life-
saving and fire-fighting equipment. To that end he shall:-

1. Ensure all safety equipment is positioned according to the ship's safety

equipment plan.
2. Ensure all lifeboats and associated equipment are maintained to a high
standard.
3. To maintain records of safety related functions and activities including:
a) Records of safety maintenance, expiry dates etc. in the ships
PMS and Tech reporting;
b) Records and reports of safety drills and training in the Training
and drills log book,
c) Maintain records and minutes of safety committee meetings;
d) Anything relating to safety equipment as directed by the Master or
Chief Officer.
4. Ensure all lifeboat rigging, davits etc., are well maintained and advise
the Chief Officer whenever a wire(s) is nearing its respective renewal or
end for ending date.
5. Ensure such renewal dates are stencilled upon the respective davit.
6. Ensure all boats are named/marked as per requirements
7. Advise the Chief Office whenever a specific piece of safety equipment
requires maintenance beyond the capabilities of the Third Officer.
8. Ensure all emergency food, water, medical and pyrotechnics (bridge &
lifeboats) are renewed as necessary with all orders placed through the
Office via the Chief Officer and the Master.
9. Ensure all instructions and signs are posted as necessary: eg:-
a) Solas lifeboat and liferaft embarkation signs and operation
instructions.
b) Muster lists
c) Emergency steering instructions on bridge & flat.
d) CO2 operating instructions
e) Line throwing instructions.
f) Smoke detecting instructions, etc
g) Safety posters, IMO symbols and safety signage of the
appropriate type.

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10. Ensure liferafts are secured as per design with operating painter
connected as per design and transportation straps removed.
11. Ensure (where applicable) all thermal protective aids and immersion
suits are in good condition and of sufficient numbers.
12. Ensure all lifejackets are in good condition with whistle, reflective tape
and lights installed/fitted as per design.
13. Ensure lifejackets required for watchkeepers and foc’sle workers are
positioned as required.
14. Ensure all lifejackets have the ship's name painted as required.
15. Ensure all fire-fighting equipment is well maintained, this includes:-
 Fire hoses and nozzles;
 fire extinguishers;
 fire plans, safety plans (can fade and should be re-lined);
 fire plan kept outside accommodation in a steel cylinder;
 fire monitors;
 CO2 room to be checked and kept clean and ventilation
proved and found satisfactory. (take care when planning to enter this
space as CO2 leakage can result in rapid death);
 Ensure appropriate operating instructions made out, in
English AND the second main language of the ship, are posted in the
CO2 room;
 Ensure all keys to locked emergency rooms are readily
available and that all locks are oiled and able to be quickly opened;
 Ensure bridge smoke detector equipment is operated
according to manufacturer's parameters and tests and fan change
over procedures followed as per same parameters;
 Ensure fireman's outfits and breathing apparatus and
associated spares etc, are kept in perfect working order and readily
available for instant use in locations specified on the Safety Plan.
NOTE: There is no second chance if this apparatus fails. It MUST be tested
regularly and it MUST be kept ready for instant use. Frequent practice drills
will help. See SAFETY MANUAL and SOLAS TRAINING MANUAL for further
guidance. Study equipment's operating instructions. Notify the Office if
instructions missing or in a language not understandable to you.

MAINTENANCE OF FFE AND LSA

1. Ensure FFE and LSA service dates are recorded in the ship's PMS.
Advise the Chief Officer whenever equipment such as extinguishers and
life rafts are nearing their respective shore service dates.

NOTE: FFE shall be serviced as required according to the relevant flag

regulations. During the period between shore servicing, ensure all
extinguishers, where design allows, are serviced aboard.

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2. Ensure adequate spares are kept aboard to allow for fire extinguishers
to be refilled. The Chief Officer is to be advised in a timely manner
whenever supplies of refills run down.
3. Ensure all fire extinguishers are tagged to record signed inspection
dates.
4. Ensure all fire extinguishers are clearly marked to indicated type.
5. Ensure EMERGENCY MUSTER LISTS are posted as necessary and
kept up to date as and when personnel leave and join. The Third Office
shall consult with the Master on this matter.
6. Test at noon EVERY day the general alarm signal and the ship's
whistle.
7. Ensure all lifebuoys are in good condition and are correctly marked and
where necessary have light attached which should also be in good order.
8. Ensure bridge wing quick release buoys, lights and smoke floats are
readily for instant release with floats renewed as required.
9. Ensure Line throwing apparatus is in good order with rockets renewed
as required and all readily available in a known and signed location on the
bridge. Ensure operating instructions are posted on the bridge. Note:
Liberian regulations require this apparatus to be demonstrated WITHOUT
FIRING to the crew every three months and an entry made in the Training
and drills log book.
NOTE: Guidance on all the above can be found in the SAFETY MANUAL,
SOLAS TRAINING MANUAL and FIRE TRAINING MANUAL.

FIRE/SECURITY WATCH AT SEA

He shall ensure the fire/security watch is in place and rounds are made
accordingly.

LIGHT LISTS
The Third Officer shall keep the Admiralty List of Lights corrected and
up to date. Notices to Mariners shall be kept in the custody of the Second
Officer who shall only be responsible for ensuring light lists are renewed as
required.

FLAGS
The Third Officer shall be responsible for the upkeep of the flags and
advising the Chief Officer whenever a signal flag is required to be renewed or
whenever a missing courtesy flag is required for the next port of call. The
Duty Watchman (A/B) is responsible for putting up and taking down flags at
the right time.

NATIONAL FLAG
Every ship is to fly it's national flag at the stern (for UK ships -
registered in London, Douglas or Hamilton this is the Red Ensign not the UK

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flag). If you only have a UK flag (Union Jack) make a requisition for a Red
Ensign. If you are not sure which is which - look in the Mariners Handbook.
For managed ships this would normally be a 2 metre flag (2 m long on the
longest length). Smaller ships (chemical tankers or reefers) - may want a
smaller flag.

COURTESY FLAG
Every vessel must fly the flag of the country it is visiting as a courtesy.
Failure to do this will bring fines and penalties in many ports. The Panama
Canal Authorities will fine any vessel transiting the Panama Canal that does
not fly the Panama flag. The correct protocol for flags is that the highest outer
stbd halyard (on the main mast) is the most important and so this is where the
courtesy flag should be flown when in that countries waters / ports. The next
most important place is the Port outer Halyard on the main mast so this is to
be used next (Q or H flag). The courtesy flag should be in good condition and
of a reasonable size - again if the courtesy flag is in poor condition or very
small port authorities may see this as an opportunity to fine you. Flags should
be put up at sunrise and taken down at sunset. (if you're in high latitudes
where sunrise / sunset may be very late or early - flags are to be put up at
0800 and taken down 2100). Q Flag must be flown - again in many countries
you will be fined for not flying the Q flag on arrival. H flag for pilot on board
when under pilotage is required. Please take care - these are only small
matters but they are important and it's an outward sign of a well managed
ship.

HOUSE FLAG
Commencing 2004 all managed vessels will be supplied with a Zodiac
House flag. While in port this should be flown from the port halyard.

HAND LEAD
The Third Officer shall be responsible for the upkeep of this piece of
equipment which shall be stored in a known and readily accessible place in or
around the bridge.

SHAPES & SOUND EQUIPMENT

Ensure signal shapes are kept in good order and readily available on
the bridge and foc’sle as required. This also applies to the foc’sle bell and the
gong together with the emergency whistle apparatus.

MOORING STATIONS
The Third Officer shall normally assist the Master on the bridge
whenever mooring stations are required. In addition to navigational duties he
shall:
 maintain the bell book (see chapter 3);

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  operate the telegraph as may be required and ensure engine
direction and revolutions match the indicated order;
 relay orders to the helmsman and check the helmsman;
 If no other officer or cadet available, check pilot embarkation and
disembarkation ladder and escort Pilot to and from as required;
 Carry out departure testing procedures as listed in Chapter 6;
 Ensure appropriate flags are displayed;
 Lock-up bridge and lock away valuable items after mooring in port
and ensure all unnecessary electrical appliances and other possible
dangers on the bridge are made safe and or disconnected eg;
disconnect kettle, extinguish all cigarettes. Leave bridge tidy and
ready for inspection by authorities.

IN PORT DUTIES
In port, the Third Officer shall keep a cargo watch as directed by the
Chief Officer. In this respect he is expected to carry out his duties in a diligent
manner ensuring all required safety procedures are closely followed. He shall
keep a note book record of occurrences during his watch and ensure all
pertinent information such as cargo handling times, damage to cargo,
stowage information, and prevailing weather conditions are recorded in the
log book. Frequent draft checks shall be made throughout his watch to
ensure ship's cargo figures closely coincide with the shore figures. Any
significant differences should be immediately brought to the attention of the
Chief Officer. Chapter 24 details more information pertaining to cargo
handling and reference should be made accordingly. He shall follow the Chief
Officer's and Master's standing orders appertaining to in port operations.
He shall familiarise himself with the cargo plan and cargo requirements
and follow hand over check lists as detailed in chapter 24 CARGO
OPERATIONS and for tankers, part 2 Chapter 5 of TANKER SAFETY
MANUAL. He shall ensure that only authorised personnel are allowed aboard
and if he has any doubts he shall challenge the visitor(s) for proof of identity
and reason for visit. If necessary, he shall bring his concerns to the Chief
Officer or Master. He shall ensure moorings are properly tended and ship's
position maintained alongside and in line with loading/discharging equipment.
11.16 He shall ensure the ship/shore access is properly tended. He shall
ensure the lighting deck and hold lighting is sufficient. He shall monitor the air
draft as per the Chief Officers instructions. He shall take density readings of
the dock water. He shall ensure the in port fire/security watch is in place and
rounds are made accordingly.