Chief Mate
Chief Mate / Chief Officer — deck-department head, deputy Master. Runs cargo operations and deck maintenance.
- Route
- CoC Chief Mate (STCW II/2). After OOW, time as Second/Chief Officer and exams.
- Watches
- On cargo ships typically 4–8 watch. On passenger/cruise often a shared bridge team.
- Progression
- Chief Mate general trade → Chief Mate tanker (Advanced Oil/Chem/LG) → Master promotion
Certifications
Discussion
Forum · deckPublished ranges
| Vessel | Region | Low | Median | High | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLCC | Global | $9,500 | $11,000 | $12,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
Wages are a floor, not a ceiling. Union CBAs, tanker/LNG/cruise differentials, and seniority-based bonuses routinely push above these numbers. Verify with ITF or your union before signing.
See the annual Seafarer salary benchmark 2026 for cross-rank synthesis and the career maps for trajectory analysis.