The senior engineer officer responsible for the operation, maintenance, and safety of all machinery and technical systems aboard.
Quick facts
Regulation
MARPOL Annex I
In practice
Under the ISM Code, the chief engineer is a senior SMS officer who must report near-misses, non-conformities, and defects through the company's reporting structure and liaise directly with the technical superintendent ashore. They chair pre-departure machinery readiness checks and must certify that all propulsion and steering equipment is in a seaworthy condition before departure. MARPOL Annex I requires the chief engineer to supervise all oil transfer operations and to maintain the Oil Record Book Part II (Cargo/Ballast Operations on tankers) and Part I (Machinery Space Operations) accurately and contemporaneously. Falsification of oil record books is treated as a serious criminal offence in many flag and port states.
Regulatory detail & full definition
The chief engineer is the senior engineer officer aboard, holding a Certificate of Competency as Chief Engineer Officer issued under STCW III/3 for propulsion power above a defined threshold. The chief engineer bears full responsibility for the operation, maintenance, and safety of all propulsion machinery, auxiliary systems, electrical plant, and technical equipment aboard the vessel. This encompasses oversight of fuel consumption and management, the engine room planned maintenance system, spare parts logistics, and engineering manpower planning.
Under the ISM Code, the chief engineer is a senior SMS officer who must report near-misses, non-conformities, and defects through the company's reporting structure and liaise directly with the technical superintendent ashore. They chair pre-departure machinery readiness checks and must certify that all propulsion and steering equipment is in a seaworthy condition before departure. MARPOL Annex I requires the chief engineer to supervise all oil transfer operations and to maintain the Oil Record Book Part II (Cargo/Ballast Operations on tankers) and Part I (Machinery Space Operations) accurately and contemporaneously. Falsification of oil record books is treated as a serious criminal offence in many flag and port states.