ABSTRACT
This chapter examines rank structure more closely as well as explore in greater detail the responsibilities and duties of the officers and ratings who work on board container ships. It discusses the roles and responsibilities of the deck department, followed by the engineering department. The master is the most senior licensed mariner on board and holds ultimate command and responsibility for the ship, her cargo, and her crew. The master has special responsibilities when the ship or its cargo are damaged or when the ship causes damage to other vessels or facilities. The passage plan is the route that the ship will take from one port to the next and must account for the ship's draught and beam, weather conditions, and any other factors that could adversely impact on the ship's schedule. On most ships, the OS(D) is an apprentice working towards gaining sufficient experience to become an AB(D). Like the deck department, engineering ratings also have a hierarchical structure.
