Junior Watchkeeping Officer

An entry-level deck officer who keeps a navigational watch on the bridge, holding the STCW Regulation II/1 Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OOW) certificate for ships of 500 GT or more. Usually the second or third officer, the junior watchkeeping officer stands a four-hours-on, eight-hours-off bridge watch, applies the COLREGs for collision avoidance, maintains the deck log, and reports to the master. The rank carries defined safety duties: lifesaving and firefighting equipment maintenance, and often medical or cargo responsibilities depending on the ship.