Security officer (seafaring)

The safety officer is the officer on a ship appointed by the shipowner who is responsible for safety on board a seagoing ship. He has to ensure that all safety-relevant devices ( lifeboat , lifebuoy , EPIRB etc.) are properly maintained and operational. He also plans and carries out the safety drill with the captain and the chief engineer .

On merchant ships, the security officer is usually the third or fourth officer . On large passenger ships, a separate officer rank is often set for safety equipment.