Indorsement of Inland Licenses for Ocean Service.
Resolved, That whenever it may appear to the satisfaction of the Supervising Inspector General, that the demand for licensed officers for ocean and coastwise vessels of the American merchant marine is such that it cannot be met under existing requirements and regulations he may authorize local inspectors to indorse the license of officers of lake, bay, and sound steam vessels for ocean or coastwise service for a period not to exceed six months or until such officer shall have passed a satisfactory examination for ocean or coastwise service within this period.
Officers whose licenses have been so indorsed shall present themselves for examination at the earliest possible opportunity after said indorsement.
Amendments of General Rules and Regulations for Bays, Sounds, and Lakes Other than the Great Lakes.
Experience Qualifications of Officers Eliminated.
Resolved, That for the present and until further notice, sections 20, 21, 23, 26, 31 and 32 of Rule V, General Rules and Regulations applying to Lakes (other than the Great Lakes), Bays, and Sounds, be struck out, and local inspectors notified that hereafter in issuing licenses to officers of vessels within this classification they may exercise the judgment and discretion vested in them by the law, without regard to the experience required by the rules and regulations the sufficiency of such experience to be determined by the local inspectors when the candidate applies for examination.
CHAPTER XVII
THE WATCH OFFICER
The Officer of the Watch or the Watch Officer, as he is usually termed in the Merchant Service, is the deck officer who has charge of the vessel while under way at sea. On other occasions, if stopped through trouble, or because of communication with other vessels, or on occasions requiring special maneuvering, as in coming in and out of port, rescues at sea, etc., the Master assumes full charge.
The Watch Officers. The watch officers are usually the Chief, Second and Third Mates, on vessels of moderate tonnage. In larger craft different watches are arranged. Then the Chief Mate may stand no regular bridge watch, and the Second, Third, and Fourth Mates take this duty.