Second Officer
The Second Officer is the first proper officer job on most yachts. You hold a watchkeeping certificate, stand your own bridge watches and usually look after the safety gear. It is where deck crew stop being judged on how well they wash down and start being judged on navigation, paperwork and how they handle responsibility.
The jobWhat fills the day
The core of the job is watchkeeping. At sea you hold a set watch, often the 12 to 4, with a deckhand as lookout. You keep the log, monitor radar and AIS, apply the COLREGs and call the Captain when something changes. Between watches you prepare passage plans on ECDIS for the Captain to approve, keep charts and publications corrected, and handle GMDSS radio routines. Most Second Officers are also the yacht's safety officer, so liferafts, EEBDs, extinguishers, lifejackets and the drill schedule are yours to manage.
With guests aboard the bridge work stays, and the deck work grows. Expect to drive tenders, run anchorages, supervise water toys and stand on the aft deck during landings. On a 55m the Second Officer may be the only officer under the Chief Officer and spends half the day in the deck team. On a 100m+ yacht the role is narrower: there may be a Third Officer below you and a First Officer above, and you might own a specific area such as safety, security or the ISM documentation.
Captains hire Second Officers who already have yacht deck experience and a fresh OOW 3000gt Certificate of Competency. Two or three seasons as a deckhand or lead deckhand, plenty of tender hours and a calm temperament count for as much as the ticket. Merchant navy officers moving across are welcome on larger yachts, provided they show they understand guest service and can work a deck. References from previous Captains matter a great deal in this market.
Most people spend two to four years as Second Officer. During that time you collect sea service and work toward the Chief Mate 3000gt CoC, often with the yacht paying part of the college fees. The step to Chief Officer comes once you have that ticket and have shown you can run a deck team. Some officers move to larger yachts at the same rank first, since time on 80m+ yachts carries weight when they later apply for Chief Officer and command.
Skills captains look for
- Bridge watchkeeping and COLREGs
- ECDIS passage planning
- Safety equipment management
- GMDSS radio procedures
- Tender driving and anchoring
- ISM and SOLAS paperwork
- Supervising deck crew
A day aboardRepositioning passage, 68m motor yacht, Palma to Gibraltar
Takes over the 0000 to 0400 watch from the Chief Officer. Checks position, traffic, weather and the night orders, then settles into hourly log entries with a deckhand on lookout.
Hands over to the Third Officer and turns in.
Breakfast, then corrects charts and Notices to Mariners on ECDIS and drafts the passage plan for the next leg to Lisbon for the Captain to sign.
Back on the bridge for the 1200 to 1600 watch. Busy traffic near Cartagena, so the Captain is called up to look at one crossing situation.
Monthly safety rounds: liferaft certificates, EEBD pressures, fire extinguisher dates and the emergency lighting test, all recorded in the planned maintenance system.
Runs the abandon ship drill with the Chief Officer, briefing new crew on muster stations and immersion suits.
Crew dinner in the mess.
Prepares for arrival in Gibraltar: pre-arrival forms for the port agent, crew list, berthing plan and fender and line requirements for the bosun.
Sleeps before the midnight watch.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Charter tips can add several thousand dollars a season on busy charter yachts. Rotation is common on 80m+ and usually pays a slightly lower monthly rate in exchange for paid time off. See the Chief Officer, Mate & OOW salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- MCA OOW 3000gt CoC or equivalent
- GMDSS GOC
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
Gets you hired
- ECDIS generic and type-specific
- HELM (Operational)
- Advanced Fire Fighting
- Ship Security Officer
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Visas
- US B1/B2
- Schengen right to work or visa
Where it leadsA typical career path
Second Officer jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Can I get a Second Officer job straight after my OOW ticket?
Yes, if you already have yacht deck experience. Captains want to see seasons as a deckhand, good tender skills and strong references alongside the new CoC. Without yacht time, a Third Officer role on a large yacht is the more realistic first step.
What is the difference between Second and Third Officer?
On yachts with both, the Second Officer is more senior, usually owns the safety equipment and covers more of the passage planning. The Third Officer is often newly qualified and works under their supervision. On smaller yachts the ranks blur and one officer does both jobs.
Do merchant navy officers get hired as Second Officer on yachts?
They do, especially on 80m+ yachts where bridge standards are close to commercial shipping. You will need to show you can drive tenders, work with guests and pitch in on deck. A season of yacht experience at a lower rank is sometimes the price of entry.
How long until I can move up to Chief Officer?
Most officers spend two to four years as Second Officer. You need the sea service and the Chief Mate 3000gt CoC, plus evidence you can lead a deck team. Many yachts help fund the college courses for officers they want to promote.