A Marine Chief Engineer is a key member of the onboard crew, overseeing the entire Marine engineering department on the vessel and responsible for the maintenance and operation of all engineering equipment onboard the vessel. . In an emergency the Marine Chief Engineer will assume complete control of the engine room.
Marine chief engineers are responsible for the entire technical operations of the vessel including engineering, electrical, and mechanical divisions. They are the head of the entire engine department aboard the ship. They have overall responsibility for all technical operations and equipment on-board the ship.
Chief officer occupies the second responsible position after the Captain of the vessel. He is the executive head of the deck department and executes the order of the Master at the operational level (although the rank itself is a more managerial position).
