SHIPTALK:

While still in a maritime college, a deck cadet often wonders as to what his shipboard duties exactly are. The common answer to this intriguing question at college is that a cadet must assist the deck officers in the day-to-day operations of the vessel.
Maritime books don’t really outline the duties expected from a trainee officer and rather harps on the theoretical aspects of onboard training.

While still in a maritime college, a deck cadet often wonders as to what his shipboard duties exactly are. The common answer to this intriguing question at college is that a cadet must assist the deck officers in the day-to-day operations of the vessel.
Maritime books don’t really outline the duties expected from a trainee officer and rather harps on the theoretical aspects of onboard training.
Indeed, there are excellent books on the theory and practice of seamanship but the practical experience gained as a cadet onboard ship is better than any bookish knowledge.
It is therefore important that deck cadets have a general overview of the duties that are performed when on board ships. Of course, these are general guidelines and the jobs may vary from ship to ship.
Below mentioned are ten important duties that are required to be performed by deck cadets on almost every type of ship.
1.    Tank Soundings: Almost all deck cadets are asked to check tank soundings on a regular basis. Generally taken after the 0400-0800 watch (before or right after breakfast), soundings are very crucial for ensuring the stability of the vessel. The fact that the ship’s stability is dependent on the total ballast being carried, makes a deck cadet realise the high level of responsibility given to him.
Taking soundings must be learnt to the highest degree of precision so that the job becomes easier and executed swiftly. Knowing the depth of all the tanks also saves a lot of time. At ports, soundings are extremely crucial to the loading and/or discharging of the cargo and should not be meddled with at all. Fabricating the readings can be detrimental to the safety of the ship and its crew.
2.    Ship Maintenance: All cadets who have served onboard will know that an area within the ship is designated to the deck cadet for maintenance and upkeep. Generally, one deck (or a part of it) of the superstructure is assigned to the cadet. Maintenance of that includes overall cleanliness and reporting of any abnormalities within the area.
3.    LSA/FFA Maintenance:  Thorough maintenance of the life saving appliances (LSA) and fire fighting appliances (FFA)  is extremely important. Generally a part of the 3rd Mate’s duties and responsibilities, this work is assigned to the cadets  so that they learn the procedures of noting down expiry dates, carrying out repair work, checking for any defects, emailing the company for ordering new products etc. In the process, a cadet ends up learning a great deal about how each equipment functions and also a lot about the lifeboats, liferafts, pyrotechnics, SOLAS Regulations etc. All such information ends up being extremely useful when appearing for the 2nd Mates examination.
4.    Deck Work: Assisting the ship’s bosun in everyday deck work is embedded into any cadet’s daily schedule. This is basically grounding work, seemingly unimportant at the start, but builds the framework for the coming years as an officer. Work on deck including chipping, painting, grinding etc. is carried out to maintain the structural integrity of the deck, along with some rope work (e.g., splicing) that gives cadets the right aspect towards good seamanship.
Also, as all cadets will tell you, the job of stenciling various parts on deck is the universal designated duty of a cadet!
5.    Berthing/Unberthing Operations: When a vessel goes alongside (or casts away), it’s normally “all hands on deck”. The entire deck populace is present at their respective stations to get the vessel to berth/cast off close to perfection. A cadet starts out at the stations as a sort of a rating, doing mainly the physical work. As time goes by and experience is gained, his job switches to more of a supervisory nature, wherein the cadet is expected to relay the orders of the Master to the ratings, ensuring that the operation runs smoothly and in order.
6.    Pilotage Operations: A cadet’s role during pilotage varies with the time he has spent onboard. Initially, a cadet assists the ratings in rigging the pilot ladder and lowering the gangway for the pilot to board, along with other related processes during pilotage. The process also involves learning, first hand, the precise construction of the pilot ladder as per Regulations (important when appearing for the 2nd Mates examination). Gradually, once the Master deems the Cadet to be relatively well versed with the vessel’s operations, he is called on the Bridge to assist the duty officer with the different pilotage paperwork, e.g. printing out and filling the pilot card, plotting the position, filling the radio log (under supervision), observing the steering etc.
 
*To be concluded next week