Leadership and resources
- Lead, train and develop the engineering team, and manage the watch systems and manning.
- Manage the budgets, the spares, the stores and the shore support.
- Apply HELM and resource-management principles and maintain a strong safety culture.
- Manage the rest hours, the workload and the welfare of the engineers under STCW and the MLC.
Leading the department means getting the engineering done safely through people: setting the standards, training and developing the team, managing the budgets and spares that let the work happen, and building a culture where hazards are risk-assessed and near-misses reported. The Chief manages the engineers' workload and rest so they stay effective over long seasons, and sets the example that the department's safety culture reflects. Managing critical spares is part of this — the vessel can only stay operational if the spares to maintain and repair it are aboard.
TIP — Get the engineering done through people Leading the department is about achieving reliable, safe engineering through a well-led, well-resourced, well-rested team. The Chief's leadership, not just technical skill, is what keeps the plant running over a season.
WARNING — Manage critical spares and rest honestly A department out of critical spares, or working breached rest hours, is one accident or breakdown from a crisis. The Chief manages both honestly, because both are safety issues, not just administration.