The Second Officer (2/O) is a watchkeeping deck officer, typically holding primary responsibility for passage planning and navigational chart correction alongside standard bridge watchkeeping duties.
Typical Responsibilities
- Bridge watchkeeping (commonly the 12-4 or another assigned watch)
- Passage planning and route preparation
- Nautical chart and publication correction
- Assisting the Chief Officer with cargo and safety duties as assigned
Where It Sits in Career Progression
Second Officer follows Third Officer and precedes Chief Officer in standard deck department progression, reached after accumulating required sea time as Third Officer — typically 12+ months, company and performance dependent.
Exam Relevance
Second Officer doesn’t require a separate competency exam beyond 2nd Mate FG (the same certificate held from Third Officer rank) — progression to Second Officer is primarily sea-time and company-assessment based, rather than requiring a new DG Shipping examination.