Third Officer
The third officer is the first rung on the bridge. You have passed your OOW, you have your first stripe, and now you keep a navigation watch on a yacht big enough to carry three or four officers. Half the job is on the bridge. The other half is still on deck with the crew, driving tenders and keeping the safety kit in order.
The jobWhat fills the day
The core of the role is watchkeeping. On passage you stand a bridge watch, usually the 8 to 12 or the 12 to 4 depending on how the captain sets the rota. You keep the log, monitor radar and AIS, follow the passage plan and call the captain early when anything looks wrong. Captains judge third officers on that last point more than anything. Alongside or at anchor you take your share of night duty and anchor watches.
Most yachts give the third officer a portfolio. Common ones are the safety equipment and liferaft servicing, charts and publications corrections, the drills schedule, or the tender fleet and water toys. With guests aboard you will spend much of the day driving tenders, running shore transfers and working with the bosun on deck. Without guests it is passage planning for the next trip, maintenance and paperwork for the chief officer.
Captains hire third officers who already know the deck. The usual profile is two to four years as a deckhand or lead deckhand, a freshly issued OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt) or OOW Unlimited, and solid tender driving. Cadets from the MCA yacht cadetship or a merchant navy background also come in at this level. A good reference from a chief officer counts for a lot, as does proof you can lead a deck team without losing their respect.
The step up to second officer usually comes after one to two years, once you have built sea time and shown you can run a watch alone. Many third officers start the Chief Mate (Yachts less than 3000gt) or Chief Mate Unlimited modules during leave. Bridge experience on a large yacht with a proper ISM system is worth more on a CV than time on a small boat, so think about the size of yacht as well as the pay.
Skills captains look for
- Bridge watchkeeping
- Passage planning and ECDIS
- Tender driving and transfers
- Safety equipment management
- ISM and ISPS paperwork
- Leading a deck team
- Radio and GMDSS procedures
A day aboardCharter week, 70m motor yacht, Sardinia to Corsica
Take over the 4 to 8 watch as the yacht repositions overnight from Porto Cervo to Bonifacio. Check the plotted track, traffic and weather, then sign the handover in the log.
Call the captain for the approach, brief the deck crew on fenders and lines, and stand by on the bridge as the yacht anchors off the cliffs.
Breakfast in the crew mess and a short sleep in the cabin.
Drive the limousine tender to take guests into Bonifacio harbour for lunch, then confirm the pick-up time with the chief stew by radio.
Monthly liferaft and lifejacket checks on the boat deck, then update the safety equipment register.
Run the jet skis and seabob for guests off the swim platform with a deckhand while the bosun handles the slide.
Start the passage plan for tomorrow's run to Calvi, checking notices to mariners and anchorage restrictions in the marine reserve.
Crew dinner and an hour off before the night anchor watch.
Anchor watch on the bridge: monitor the anchor alarm, wind shift and returning tender, and do rounds of the decks every hour.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Charter yachts add tips, often USD 2,000 to 4,000 a week in a busy Med season, shared across the crew. Rotation on larger yachts means less annual income than some permanent posts, with far more time at home. See the Chief Officer, Mate & OOW salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- MCA OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt) or OOW Unlimited CoC
- STCW Basic Safety Training and PDSD
- ENG1 medical certificate
- GMDSS GOC
- Advanced Fire Fighting and Medical First Aid
Gets you hired
- Ship Security Officer (SSO)
- HELM (Operational)
- Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2 and PWC licence
- Chief Mate modules in progress
Visas
- US B1/B2 visa
- Schengen visa for non-EU crew
Where it leadsA typical career path
Third Officer jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need the OOW Unlimited, or will the yacht OOW do?
Most yachts under 3000gt accept the OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt). If you want the biggest yachts over 3000gt, or a later move to commercial shipping, the Unlimited ticket keeps those options open. Plenty of officers do the yacht route first and convert later.
Will I still do deck work as third officer?
Yes, on most yachts. You will drive tenders, help on lines and water toys and sometimes wash down with the team when guests are aboard. You spend less time on maintenance than a deckhand, and you will be expected to supervise as well as do the job.
Can I get a third officer job straight out of a cadetship?
It happens, mainly through MCA yacht cadetships and merchant navy cadets with good references. Captains still want to see tender skills and some time on deck, so a season as a deckhand after qualifying is common and does no harm.
Is third officer a rotational job?
On yachts over about 80m it often is, commonly 2:2 or 3:1 rotations, sometimes with a slightly lower monthly rate. Smaller yachts with a third officer tend to offer permanent contracts with around 30 to 45 days' leave.