The Captain shoulders immense responsibilities and oversees all shipboard operations.

Merchant ship officer ranks. A vessel thus requires a definite system of merchant navy ranks that would enable the distribution of assignments in a professional and formal manner. The Captain is in command of a merchant ship at all times and regulates the proper daily transactions and handles the legal affairs on maritime issues. The Captain or Master is the final authority on the ship and is the highest rank one can achieve onboard.

Ranks in merchant navy are explained in a detail manner. On ship the ranks are under two groups. If a situation arises wherein the Captain is not on board then automatically the Chief Officer has to take over the Captains work and will act as the ships executive officer.

The Captain or Master of the ship is the final authority of the ship and is the highest rank that one can achieve onboard. 5th Engineer or Engine Cadet and. The general duties for a third assistant engineer differ from ship to ship.

Merchant navy officers mainly wear a white shirt and black trousers along with epaulettes according to the rank on the ship. A Fourth Engineer or Third Assistant Engineer is a rank of engine officer who is part of the engine department on a merchant vessel. The position is an apprenticeship to become a second mate and has been for centuries.

Chief Petty Officer. The third mate is a watchstander and customarily the ships safety officer and fourth-in-command. One is officer rank and other is Rating rank.

He shoulders total responsibility and oversees all shipboard operations. Whenever a work is to be carried out in any of the department an officer in charge is always made. In the merchant navy the term officer can refer to a master mate engineer fishing boat skipper second hand or cook.