Comfort on board depends on the work of the catering department. There are also important roles that are not permanently on the ship.
Catering department
- Chief Cook: Plans and cooks the meals for the crew. Responsible for nutrition, hygiene and food safety.
- Steward / Messman: Food service, cleaning of cabins and common areas.
- On passenger ships: A very large hotel and restaurant department.
MLC 2006 requires that crews are given adequate, nutritious food that takes account of cultural and religious backgrounds, and that catering staff are trained.
Cadets
Trainee officers who complete sea service as deck or engine cadets.
Pilot
- Not a member of the crew; the local expert who joins the ship for entering and leaving port.
- Even with the pilot on board, the Master remains responsible for the safety of the ship.
Company and outside personnel
- Superintendent: The company's technical or operational representative who visits the ship.
- Surveyors and inspectors: Come for class society, port State or customer inspections.
Why should I know this?
When everyone knows who does what, both harmony on board and speed in an emergency improve.
Check the muster list and duty cards on your first day to see who has which role.