Seamen of the deck department refer to the following positions:
1. Chief mates, deck officers, and deck cadets.
2. Deck assistants, boatswains, deputy boatswains, ships’ carpenters, able sailors, quartermasters, sailors, and deck trainees.
3. Other seamen of the deck department.

Deck department directors shall be responsible for the following matters:
1. The ship’s operation and navigation issues.
2. Any maintenance, repair, or materials necessary for the hull, deck equipment, marine instruments, and the related attachments.
3. Meteorological observations and weather reports.
4. The use and proper maintenance of communications equipment on the deck.
5. Reports regarding the ship’s route and position and the records of them in the logbook.
6. The management, evaluation, and training of deck department personnel.
7. The preparation and management of cargo handling.
8. The preparation, repair, and proper maintenance of charts and nautical books.
9. Communication among the engine, general affairs (passenger sector) and telecommunications departments
10. Medical matters, general administration, and seafarers’ welfare.
11. Onboard safety and security matters.
12. Other matters related to the deck department.

Officers responsible for the navigational watch shall manage seamen operations and perform the following:
1. Meticulously comply with marine rules while keeping watch.
2. Adhere to the master’s marine instructions without arbitrarily changing them.
3. Maintain the course and speed established by the master. Stopgap measures may be implemented in an emergency but should be immediately reported to the master.
4. Pay particular attention to the weather and sea conditions and immediately report them to the master should emergency conditions arise.
5. Sign and review the night shift order book while keeping the night watch.
6. Be responsible for communications and liaison, and immediately report anything significant to the master.
7. Pay particular attention to weather and nearby sea conditions when the ship is anchored or berthed.
8. Advise the relieving personnel in detail of the ship’s operational situation, orders to be carried out, and other important matters.
9. Record all relevant matters in the logbook when keeping watch.
10. Other matters assigned by the supervisor.

The chief mate shall keep watch while the ship is sailing or in port, shall comply with the master’s orders, assume responsibility of all administrative matters, and manage all seamen of the deck and general affairs departments so that they carry out the following tasks:
1. Evaluate the work and behavior of all seamen belonging to the deck and general affairs departments.
2. Review the supply and maintenance of materials, deck equipment, and accessories, and be responsible for application and utilization.
3. Guide survival, firefighting, and other drills, and assume responsibility for equipment maintenance.
4. Record and maintain the logbook, equipment and facility catalogs, loading and unloading cargo files, and other relevant documents that ought to be maintained and recorded by the chief mate.
5. Perform duties in the bow or the assigned job position to command seamen to perform their tasks pursuant to the master’s instructions while the vessel enters and leaves the port and while it is anchored.
6. Assume responsibility for handling official foreign business onboard, overseeing loading and unloading operations, and managing the unloading operations of dangerous or special cargo pursuant to the requirements of relevant safety laws and regulations.
7. Keep count of the seamen of all levels onboard and check for the private carrying of passengers or cargo with each department director prior to the ship setting sail.
8. Pay particular attention to the regular maintenance and inspection regarding the sanitation of accommodations and record it; assume responsibility for the treatment of injured seafarers or passengers.
9. Guide relevant personnel to prepare instruments pursuant to regulations when the ship undergoes various inspections.
10. Organize the examination, maintenance, and repair of equipment on the hull and deck, oversee the cleaning of the deck and general affairs departments, and assign tasks to seamen.
11. Regularly review the following items and keep records:
(1) The food and drinking water supply.
(2) Areas and equipment related to food and drinking water storage and handling.
(3) Kitchen and other accessories related to food preparation and serving.
12. The training, managing and evaluating of deck cadets.
13. Other duties that shall fall within the chief mate’s responsibility pursuant to international conventions, laws and regulations, as well as the employer’s guidelines and the master’s instructions.
When handing over duties, the chief mate shall inform the successor regarding the details of operational conditions and marine inertia and shall hand over the managed documents, atlas, and public properties, and then both the chief mate and the successor shall jointly sign and report it to the master.

The deck officer shall keep watch when the ship is sailing or in port and shall comply with the orders given by supervisors with regard to the following responsibilities:
1. Properly maintain and calibrate onboard marine equipment and instruments, as well as properly maintain and correct any marine charts and nautical books.
2. Perform the duties of the position assigned by the master when the vessel enters or leaves the port or is anchored and instruct seafarers to perform their jobs pursuant to the master’s orders.
3. Be on duty pursuant to the master’s orders when the ship is berthed and guide any cargo loading and unloading operations.
4. Maintain and keep proper records in the summary logbook, magnetic compass deviation book, and nautical instruments record, as well as regularly fill in the midday report.
5. Assume responsibility for the handling and safekeeping of mail, and maintain a mail registration book where the date and number of pieces of mail received and delivered are recorded.
6. Be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of all equipment and accessories on deck, as well as on the outside and inside of the bridge.
7. Properly store and maintain the medicines and medical equipment on board.
8. Help the chief mate in handling ship entering and leaving processes and general administrative matters.
9. Coordinate with the engineer officer to perform trial runs, bells, and whistle, and inform the master of the ship's draft and reserves of fuel and fresh water prior to the ship setting sail.
10. Properly maintain and check rescue, firefighting, and deck communications equipment.
11. Assume responsibility for picking up and sending off the water pilot and ensuring the safety of the rope ladder and gangway ramp.
12. Other duties for which the deck officer shall be responsible pursuant to international conventions, laws, and regulations, as well as the employer’s guidelines and the superiors’ instructions.
The responsibilities of an individual deck officer on a ship with more than two deck officers shall be determined by the employer pursuant to the provisions above.
The responsibilities of the deck office on a ship without the position of a deck officer shall be carried out by personnel designated by the master.

The boatswain shall comply with the orders of the chief mate or deck officer responsible for the navigational watch to guide the ratings in the deck department.

The deputy boatswain and ship’s carpenter shall comply with the orders of the chief mate, deck officer responsible for the navigational watch, or boatswain in their duties with regard to the maintenance of anchor gear, deck equipment, materials, tools, and lamps, as well as checking the closure of the cargo tank vent and inspection of the water tank. They shall report the daily measured water conditions to the chief mate.

Able seafarer deck shall assist with the affairs of the deck department and have the following duties:
1. Adhere to the orders of the master and the officer responsible for the navigational watch during navigation and berth.
2. Upon arrival at a harbor, assist with the berthing, anchoring and other cabling procedures.
3. Responsible for loading and unloading of goods and materials.
4. Responsible for the cleaning, maintenance and repair of all facilities, machinery and accessories on the deck.

The able sailor, quartermaster, and sailors shall handle steering and observation when the ship is sailing or shall keep watch at the ladder entrance when the ship is berthed in the port. They are also responsible for the cleanliness of the internal and external hull, deck machinery, and living cabins, as well as for cargo loading and unloading preparations to comply with the orders of the chief mate, officer in charge of the navigational watch, or boatswain.
Deck cadets shall help with and practice the work of seafarers at each level, supervised by the master and officers. Deck cadets’ tasks shall be assigned by the master and chief mate and shall be evaluated according to specific training and appropriate evaluation items of the onboard training record book for deck cadets and/or reinforcement training records book.
Deck trainees shall help with and practice the work of seafarers at each level, supervised by the boatswain and ratings. Deck trainees’ tasks shall be assigned by the chief mate and assessed according to specific training and appropriate evaluation items of the onboard training record book for ratings that form part of the navigational watch.
Seafarers without a certificate of competency issued by a competent authority shall not be responsible for a navigational watch.