06/015 - Chief Mate duties on Bulk Carriers

Experience from Bulk Carriers on trade, re, Australia - China; two kinds of cargo, one loading port, two discharging port, and probably bunkering...

Lot of calculation done on the bridge at sea during watch, lot of calculations done during hours of rest.

During loading in Australia unable leave cargo operation survey; deck officers too young and not ready to load and take care about deballasting. Very big level of fatigue on the end of loading. After departure C/O must go to watch on the bridge previously being rested 2 or 3 hours during last 36 hours.
Very dangerous.

In China nobody respect discharging procedure regarding quantity and holds. C/O must be in CCR at all times and in contact with somebody able to communicate in English.

Fatigue is very dangerous!