Duty and Responsibility Chief Engineering

Duty and Responsibility Chief Engineering

The chief engineer is the supreme leader for the engineering department on board the ship, he is responsible for all the ship's machinery and is at the same time responsible for the crew of the engine department. In the following we will discuss the duties and responsibilities of the chief engineer.

Responsibility:   Chief  Engineer is  the main  leader of Engine  Department  who take charge of organizing and supervising all persons of Engine Room Department in operating, maintaining and repairing the main and auxiliary engines, boilers, steering gear, refrigerating plant, deck machines, other machinery and electrical equipment, etc. In order to ensure they are in good working condition at any time. Co-ordinate with Master and monitor the relevant crew on implementing the requirements of the safety management system.

According to the requirements of description and ship’s classification society to operate the ship’s machines and electrical equipment Monitoring engineers and electricians to check the operation of mechanical and electrical equipment during running. If find any malfunction or defect should make every effort to put it right and manage to minimize it in order to prevent any breakdown.

Attend the engine room and direct the Duty Engineer in operating the machinery whilst the ship is entering or departing a port, passing through a narrow waterway or engine running abnormal condition.

Instruct and supervise the Duty Engineer on duty for the satisfactory fulfillment of their duties:

• Overhaul the main and auxiliary engines when the ship is an anchoring and do the same for other auxiliary machinery when navigating.
• Strictly carry out the duty in the engine room and ensure all machinery is working in normal condition.
• Make everything in the necessary state of preparedness for sailing within the time period instructed by the Master.
• Swift and correctly operate the main engine in accordance with the orders given from the bridge.
• Cooperate with the Master to perform “The safety management system” which issued by the Company.

Be responsible for arrange and record the items of Continuous Machinery    Survey of the main engine and auxiliary engine.

Observe horse-power of the main engine when at sea and make adequate adjustment according to the result of analyses.    Any adjustment together with the indicating diagram should be sent to the company together.

Responsible for safety equipment such as water-tight doors, emergency stop engine, emergency safety valve, alarm, indicator lamps and safety switches.   Share responsibility with the Chief Officer for the fire-fighting facilities. Give instructions to the Duty Personnel and make them familiar with their duties and posts in the event of emergency.

Inspect the materials and tools of the engine room and check the inventory of spare parts for the main and auxiliary engines and report to the Company regularly.

Checking and monitor the writing of engine room log book every day in order to ensure its correctness and make a report when the voyage ended and submit it to the Master who will then send it to the Company.

Regularly fill in the forms which are prescribed by the Company and submit it to the Master who will then send them to the Company.

Make out repairing list of engine and electric machinery before the ship having repairing and hand it to Master who will pass it to the Company. company.  During the repairing period, should supervise the inspection of any repair items carried out by the crew members. Assist the Company’s supervisor and surveyor to do the inspection especially for the items which need to be inspected by the surveyor.

Check through every repaired item carefully and seriously before signing off a bill for acceptance and ratification.

Perform the Master’s instruction, especially concerning the vessel, cargoes, and life-safety should be strictly followed and carried out.

Monitor the Duty Engineers and Duty Officers to inspect the steering gear 60 minutes before the sailing instruction and transshipment notice given by the Master.  (Prior inspection is required for engineers and electrical engineer).

When the problems or defects concerning the machines or electrical equipment can not execute an instruction from the bridge, should inform the deck officer to report to the Master at once, then make a record in the Engineer’s Log Book. When needs to stop the engine should first notify the Master, but if there is an emergency situation (E.G. personal injuries, damage of major parts in the main engine or a threat to safety, etc.) the Chief Engineer should stop the engine before reporting to the Master. 

In case of emergency, the Chief Engineer should direct every member of the engine room department to attend to the required emergency activities in accordance with the ship’s muster list. In the event of the vessel sinking or facing danger, he should complete all procedures for leaving the engine room in an orderly manner upon receipt of Master’s instructions.   He should bring with him the engine log book and telegraph Records book and be the last to leave the engine room.

Whilst the ship is undergoing repairs in a shipyard, the Chief Engineer should check with the Chief Officer the condition of sea-valves, propeller, stern tube and the rudder-stock, etc.   Once the ship is ready to leave the shipyard, both should inspect the sea-valve, bottom plug, sea-chest and all equipment below the water-line and ensure they are in normal working condition.

The Chief Engineer is responsible for monitor and management of various records and files, safe keeping all certificates concerning the Engine Department (except those kept by the Master) and pay attention to the validity limits of those certificates.   Report to the Master in advance of any certificates which will expire soon and apply for renewal or any related inspections.

Responsible for keep safe the company’s correspondences, drawings, books, spare parts inventory, repair documents, account bills, technical information and measurement records, etc.

If any engineer cannot continue his duties temporarily due to illness or other reasons. The Chief Engineer should take over the duties by himself or appoint another qualified person to do so.

If there is not the electrical Engineer, shall assign qualified Engineer to carry out the duty.

Responsible for the management of oil spill and anti-pollution materials(SOPEP), including monthly inventory quantity and related equipment maintenance.