What a First Mate Does on a Superyacht

A first mate, more formally called chief officer, is second in command of a yacht. They run the deck department, take navigational watches, manage safety drills and certification, and step up to command when the captain is off the boat.

What a chief officer does on board

• Second in command and navigational watchkeeping
• Deck maintenance planning and exterior presentation
• Safety drills, ISM documentation and crew training
• Tender and watersports operations oversight

What the job is actually like

Split between the bridge and the deck. Watches, passage planning and safety paperwork on one side; running the bosun and deckhands, maintenance schedules and tender operations on the other. The chief officer is usually the person who absorbs the gap between what the captain wants and what the deck team can realistically deliver that week.

Certification and experience

These are the qualifications yachts ask for in a chief officer. Most yachts also want around 4 years behind them, though a strong reference from a captain counts for more than an extra season on paper.

• MCA Chief Mate 3000GT
• OOW 3000GT
• STCW
• ENG1

Typical experience sought: 4+ years · Reports to Yacht Captain · Manages Bosun, Deckhand

Getting into the role

Four to seven years from deckhand, depending on how quickly you gather sea time and clear the modules. Yachts with heavy cruising schedules build qualifying hours faster than boats that sit in the marina. The role is the last stop before command, so most people either push for master within a few years or settle here deliberately.

What a chief officer earns

Pay varies with vessel size, cruising programme and whether the position is rotational. See the salary guide.