All roles/Deck and Bridge/Second Officer
Deck and Bridge
Second Officer
The Second Officer stands navigation watches, keeps charts and passage plans current and usually runs the safety equipment, giving the Captain and Chief Officer a qualified officer they can trust on the bridge.
- Department
- Deck and Bridge
- Reports to
- Chief Officer / First Mate
- Yacht size
- 50m to 150m+
- Contract
- Permanent or rotation
- Starting pay
- €5,500 per month
What the job is
The Second Officer is a qualified watchkeeper, usually holding the MCA Officer of the Watch (Yacht) 3000gt. On yachts over about 50m you share the bridge watches with the Captain, Chief Officer and any Third Officer. At sea that often means the 12 to 4 watch, day and night. At anchor you run anchor watches, check positions and weather, and keep the logbook. When you hold the watch, the yacht and everyone on her are your responsibility.
Away from the watch, most Second Officers are the navigation officer. You correct paper and electronic charts, keep ECDIS and publications up to date, and draw up passage plans for the Captain to approve. Many yachts also make you the safety officer. You inspect life rafts, lifejackets, fire extinguishers and breathing apparatus, keep the maintenance records ready for flag and class surveys, plan drills and look after the medical stores and oxygen.
You are still a hands on deck officer. You run a mooring station, drive tenders on guest runs, launch toys and help the Bosun direct the deckhands during washdowns and maintenance. On charter you are visible to guests, so manners and presentation matter. The role is the main stepping stone to Chief Officer. You build sea service and management experience towards the Chief Mate ticket, and Captains judge your readiness by how calmly you handle the bridge.
What makes a good one
- Calm, accurate watchkeeping
- Passage planning and ECDIS
- Safety equipment management
- Confident tender handling
- Leading deckhands under pressure
A day in the life
- 07:00Take over the anchor watch from the Third Officer. Check the anchor position, wind forecast and swell, and sign the deck log.
- 08:00Morning meeting with the Chief Officer and Bosun to agree the guest programme, tender runs and which deckhands are on toys.
- 09:30Drive the guests ashore to a beach club in the limousine tender, then return to help launch the jet skis and inflatable slide.
- 12:00Monthly safety rounds: check fire extinguisher pressures, emergency lighting and lifejacket lights on two decks, then update the planned maintenance system.
- 14:00Finish the passage plan for tonight's crossing to Ibiza, with waypoints, tidal and weather notes and no go areas, and send it to the Captain for approval.
- 16:00Lead a fire drill for off duty crew, with the scenario in the engine room casing and a full boundary cooling exercise.
- 18:00Recover guests and toys, stow the tenders and prepare the bridge for departure. Test steering, navigation lights and radios.
- 19:30Stand at the bow for weighing anchor, report the chain to the bridge and secure for sea.
- 00:00Take the midnight to 04:00 watch, monitoring radar, AIS and ECDIS through ferry traffic before handing over to the Chief Officer.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for a Second Officer on a 50m to 80m yacht, with higher figures on larger yachts. Usually quoted in EUR or USD. Charter tips add a further €1,500 – 4,000 a month in season on busy charter yachts. Rotation roles often pay slightly less per month worked.
- France and Monaco
- €5,500 – 7,500
- Spain
- €5,200 – 7,200
- Italy
- €5,200 – 7,200
- United Kingdom
- £4,700 – 6,400
- USA (Florida)
- US$6,000 – 8,200
- Caribbean
- US$6,000 – 8,200
- UAE
- AED 22,000 – 30,000
- Australia
- A$9,300 – 12,600
- New Zealand
- NZ$10,200 – 13,800
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- MCA Officer of the Watch (Yacht) 3000gt
- HELM (Operational)
- GMDSS GOC
- ECDIS
- Advanced Fire Fighting
- Proficiency in Survival Craft
- Medical First Aid
- PDSD
Recommended
- Medical Care
- Ship Security Officer
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA PWC
- HELM (Management)
- PADI Divemaster
Visas
- Schengen visa
- US B1/B2 or C1/D
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Second Officer jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need my OOW 3000gt to be a Second Officer?
On almost every yacht over 50m, yes. Smaller yachts sometimes accept a Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean, but those roles usually go by other titles and pay less.
How long before I can move up to Chief Officer?
Most officers spend two to four years as Second Officer, building sea service for the Chief Mate ticket. Captains also want to see you manage the deck team and safety systems well before they promote you.
Are Second Officer jobs on rotation?
On yachts over about 70m rotation is common, often two months on and two off or similar. On smaller yachts most roles are permanent with set leave days.