Vacancies for 2nd Officer

2nd Officer (also Second Officer or 2/O) is a watchkeeping deck officer and, on many merchant vessels, the ship’s main navigation officer. This officer usually looks after passage planning, chart corrections, bridge watchkeeping, navigation equipment and routine bridge paperwork. In practice, the 2nd Officer is the person who keeps much of the ship’s navigation work in order on a daily basis.

2nd Officer Salary Expectations

2nd Officer salary on a good merchant fleet today often falls roughly in the USD 3,900 - 5,500 per month range. According to Maritime Zone, the average 2nd Officer salary is currently USD 4,180/month. In current vacancies on the site, you can see around USD 3,900 on General Cargo, USD 4,300 on Bulk Carrier, USD 4,200 - 4,710 on Container Ship, around USD 4,950 on Chemical Tanker and about USD 5,500 on LPG Tanker. On offshore vessels and DP vacancies, the rate can be higher and may reach USD 400 - 450 per day. For a broader overview, see the 2nd Officer salary statistics page.

Duties

The 2nd Officer plans the voyage, keeps a navigational watch and makes sure charts, publications and route information are up to date. The job usually includes monitoring navigational equipment, updating passage plans, keeping logbooks and checking that bridge routines are followed properly during the watch.

On many ships, the 2nd Officer also works closely with the Chief Officer during cargo operations and mooring, and may help brief junior deck officers or cadets. Depending on company practice, the role can also include records such as Bridge Log Book, Garbage Record Book, Ballast Log and other routine bridge documentation.

Some fleets expect extra background. Tanker companies may ask for the right tanker endorsements. Offshore employers often look for DP-related certificates or previous DP vessel experience. On more specialized ships, employers may also want stronger ECDIS, cargo or bridge equipment experience.

Requirements

A 2nd Officer vacancy usually requires a valid deck officer Certificate of Competency in line with STCW II/1, the national CoC required by the flag or company, and previous sea service as a 3rd Officer or another watchkeeping deck officer. Depending on vessel type, employers may also ask for ECDIS, GMDSS, tanker endorsements, DP certificates for offshore jobs, or other fleet-specific documents.

If you are looking for the best 2nd Officer jobs, compare not only salary, but also vessel type, trading area, contract length, bridge workload and the reputation of the company. A good 2nd Officer job is not always the one with the highest number. Clear terms, a normal workload and a reliable employer often matter just as much.