The Second Officer is a junior officer whose primary responsibility is the preparation of passages plans for the vessel's voyages. The Second Officer reports to the Master by way of the Chief Officer.
Medical Officer
The Second Officer is the Medical Officer onboard the company’s vessels. The medical officer role comes with the following responsibilities:
Maintaining the vessels 1st aid, medical and resuscitation equipment;Issuing medicine to crewmembers as requested/required and logging what is issued;Ordering, stocking and inventorying medicine on a monthly basis;Disposing of expired medications according to the Disposal of Medical Supplies procedure;Securing medicine against unauthorized use.
Where the vessel carries a full supply of medicine, the Second Officer will be the secondary key holder along with the Master.
Navigation Publications and Equipment
The Second Officer as the vessel's Navigating Officer is responsible for the following:
Ensuring all Charts and navigational publications onboard are fully corrected and up-to-date. It is Labrador Marine Inc. policy that all charts and nautical publications are kept up-to-date at all times and not just for the intended voyage;Before sailing, ensuring that charts and navigational publications required for the voyage are corrected, onboard, and filed in a logical order in an accessible location for the Officer of the Watch;Electronic navigation equipment, including radar, GPS, echo sounder must be tested and proved operational. Any defects are reported to the Master immediately, particularly those impacting usability or performance of the equipment. All repairs and maintenance to equipment must be done in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and noted in the appropriate equipment logs as required;All other navigation equipment and instruments, including sextants, plotting gear and tables, azimuth circles, navigation lights and shapes, flags and signals, barometers, anemometers, and thermometers;GMDSS equipment, including testing as required and the radio log.
The Second Officer is also to conduct daily test of the vessel’s alarms, public address system and sound signalling devices; and monthly test of the bridge deadman or watch alarm system. All equipment tests are to be noted in the appropriate log book.
The Second Officer will conduct bridge familiarizations for all officers and watchmen who are new to the vessel. The Bridge Familiarization Checklist must be completed for each officer in charge of a navigational watch prior to taking over his/her first watch; watchmen may be put through a less formal familiarization provided they have a clear understanding of how to change over steering between hand and automatic.
Passage Planning
The Second Officer is responsible for preparing navigational passage plans for all voyages the vessel undertakes. Passage plans are to be prepared according to procedures in this manual in advance of departure with adequate time for the Master to review and approve the passage plan. As part of passage plan preparation, the Second Officer is also responsible for the following:
- Preparing all paper charts and electronic navigation aids for the planned voyage including erasing or resetting previous voyages to avoid confusion;
- Preparing weather, tide, current, ice and other condition reports that may be required for safe navigation during the voyage;
- Sending, or arranging to have set, any pre-departure notices required by regulation or company policy.
Safety Officer
The Second Officer is the vessel’s Safety Officer responsible for monitoring all aspects of safety onboard. As part of this role, the following responsibilities are included:
- Preparing and filing accident and injury reports as specified in the Safety Management System Manual;
- Assisting with incident investigations as requested by the Master;
- Assisting crewmembers in conducting risk assessments when requested;
- Conducting Safety Orientations with crewmembers joining the vessel;
- Posting safety related notices sent from the company’s office;
- Maintaining records and files regarding safety as required by this manual;
- Ensuring safety signs, posters, and IMO emergency symbols are clearly legible and in good condition;
- Conducting safety inspections of all areas of the vessel;
- Checking SDS database to ensure the most up-to-date sheets are available.
The Second Officer is also the Health and Safety representative for the vessel’s crew. This role includes the chairing of monthly safety meetings, ensuring that recent (since last meeting) incident and near miss reports are reviewed during the meeting, and taking and submitting Safety Meeting Minutes. The Second Officer will be identified as the Safety Officer by name on the Designated Duties Poster.
Freight Operations
As directed by the Chief Officer, the Second Officer will assist with freight operations.
Navigation and Mooring
As a Watchkeeping Officer, the Second Officer is to maintain a safe and attentive navigational watch while at sea in accordance with the ICS Bridge Procedures Guide, the Master’s Standing Orders, and Section 4 of this manual. During mooring and unmooring operations, the Second Officer is to be on deck in command of the operations in a location assigned by the Master.
Handovers
The Second Officer is to complete a written handover covering each of his/her responsibilities when departing the ship. The incoming and outgoing Second Officers should review the condition of the vessel with a particular focus on bridge equipment, safety equipment, the orders for the upcoming voyage. On the day the embarking 2/O joins the vessel, the handover notes are to be reviewed by both the outgoing and incoming Second Officers together.
Safety Training
The Second Officer is responsible for implementing the Onboard Safety Training Program as described in this manual. While the Second Officer may not necessarily deliver the actual training, he/she is responsible for the following:
- Ensuring the appropriate time and space is dedicated to allowing the training to occur according to the plan;
- Organizing an appropriate crewmember to deliver the training;
- Coordinating with the Master to align the training with appropriate drills when possible;
- Recording the crewmembers attending the training and the topic, and filing the Training Report.
Lifesaving and Firefighting Equipment
The Second Officer is responsible for maintaining all lifesaving equipment, firefighting equipment, firefighting systems, emergency escape trunks, and other safety equipment onboard the vessel in a ready to use state at all times. All equipment must be inspected and maintained according to DNV Class Guideline Maintenance of Safety Equipment. He/she is also responsible for monitoring expiry dates on all hydrostatic releases, batteries, lights, and pyrotechnics associated with the safety equipment and ordering replacements as required through the Chief Officer.
If any piece of safety equipment is expired, damaged, or otherwise unserviceable, the Master must be notified immediately.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
Work Location: In person
