The officer of the deck (OOD) is a ship’s officer who reports directly to the captain. This person is responsible for ensuring the ship’s safe operation and navigation, submitting regular reports to the commanding officer, and training the junior officer of the deck and conning officer in preparation for promotion to the OOD position. An OOD also communicates with the executive officer and navigator on a regular basis to ensure that each change in the ship’s operation is safe. A petty officer of the watch, signalman of the watch, boatswain’s mate of the watch, and quartermaster of the watch are usually part of the officer of the deck’s team.
The safe navigation of a ship necessitates close collaboration among several crew members. The officer of the deck ensures that the crew is in constant communication so that the best decisions can be made regarding the vessel’s navigation. An OOD will make recommendations to the commanding officer, but will ultimately defer to him.
The officer of the deck keeps track of all critical ship operations through close communication. This includes the state of all mechanical functions, the ship’s location, and the vessel’s proximity to other ships. In order for the ship to function properly, the OOD must be aware of all potential personnel issues and ensure the safety of all officers and crew.
Unless officially relieved a replacement, usually the junior officer of the deck, an officer of the deck is required to remain in a specific location on the ship. The OOD usually stays on the quarterdeck while the ship is in port, as it serves as a sort of command center for the ship before it sets sail. Once the ship is at sea, the Officer of the Deck will move to the bridge, which is the ship’s primary command post. An OOD will usually stay on the bridge for the duration of the trip.
When leaving an official post, such as the quarterdeck or bridge, the OOD must follow specific regulations in order to ensure the ship’s safety and consistency. Before an OOD can leave his or her station, the replacement must be briefed on the ship’s current operations. Then the two officers must have a verbal exchange in which the OOD explicitly states that the position has been relinquished the OOD and accepted the replacement until the officer returns.