Vessel Operations
Today's commercial ships are extremely complex and technical.
Their success is dependant on a diverse range of expertise onboard and shoreside; from the most basic and practical, to very detailed organizational and management skill sets and disciplines.
Modern technology is used extensively in many areas on board the merchant ship of today, with considerable emphasis being placed on security, safety and the protection of the environment.
Despite the myraid of high technological applications in the maritime industry and onboard ships today, the maritime support personnel both afloat and shoreside must continue to be acutely aware of the natural environment in which they operate and the long-standing traditional principles of seafaring and shipping.
There are typically three (3) principal departments on board are the; Deck, Engine and Stewards(Hotel) departments.
The deck department is concerned with the overall operation of the ship and its responsibilities include navigation, communications, cargo and stability, maintenance and safety.
The engine room department oversees all technical services including main engine propulsion, other plant and machinery, and electrical generation.
The steward department is responsible for the galley, food preparation, serving and general hotel related services of a vessel's operation, inparticular on passenger/cruise ships.
The size of a merchant vessel's manning complement varies according to the size, the type of vessel and its function and area of operation. This may range from as few as as six up to thirty mariners or more. These crew numbers will be significantly higher on passenger ships and ferries in all departments and particularly in respect of food and hotel services staff, depending on the number of passengers the vessel carrys.
Merchant Marine Officers, both deck and engine, are responsible for the supervision and direction of various activities in their respective departments, including navigational and engine room watchkeeping, cargo work and other vessel operations according to the type of vessel, as well as performing equipment maintenance and other practical tasks onboard the vessel.
Whilst underway at sea, the ship is navigated from the bridge of the vessel by qualified licensed deck officers working a watch system of 4 hours on and 8 off, or 6 hours on and 6 off, with similar arrangements applying to engineering officers in respect of the service requirements in the vessel's engine room.
Deck or engineering officers are directly responsible for the safe operation of the ship, which may have a commercial value of from several hundred thousand dollars to hundreds of millions in the case of the new generation cruise ships. Seafarers must develop the qualities of self reliance, tolerance, self discipline, personal responsibility, the ability to work both independently and as part of a cohesive team, and must learn to adopt and be able to cope with loneliness, homesickness, long work hours, and seasickness
Although life at sea it is demanding, it can offer its own particular rewards and satisfactions and represents a challenging career for those with the right personal qualities, ambition and passion for the sea.
