## 2 Background
### Defined Officer and Crew Positions  
Before crews are removed from vessels, they most likely will be reduced to minimum operating levels while certain tasks are automated. Reducing a vessel's crew while increasing onboard automation does not automatically reduce the amount of duties required of the remaining onboard crew. For this concept to be fully understood, one must be cognizant of all of the duties and responsibilities of a ship's crew. Ocean going merchant ships of unlimited tonnage, which are typically vessels over 1600 gross tons, have minimal crewing requirements. This may be as few as 12 to 17 crew members onboard. These crewmembers are generally divided into three departments: Deck, Engine, and Steward. Specific manning requirements for vessels are detailed by the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate (MSMC). This is required under IMO's Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, STCW Code, and Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and is issued by the vessel's country of registry. The MSMC takes into account a vessel's size, cargo, power, and nature of her work, while also abiding by IMO's Resolution A 1047(27) Principles of Minimum Safe Manning, MSC. 1/Circ.1598 Guidelines on Fatigue, Merchant Shipping (Manning and STCW) Regulations 2014 (SD 2014/0238), Merchant Shipping Regulations 2013 (SD 0234/13), and other regulations set forth from the country of registry to determine the safe number of personnel to operate a vessel. Below is a brief overview of the positions generally required onboard a vessel to ensure its safe operation. Within the Deck Department, the manning requirement for an unlimited tonnage ocean going vessel usually consists of a minimum of three watch standards who are Licensed Deck Officers, or \"Mates\". This typically consists of a First Officer or Chief Mate (C/M),Second Mate (2/M), and Third Mate (3/M). The Master typically does not stand watch and holds the highest authority onboard, acting as the vessel's manager. A watch stander, who is the Officer in Charge of the Navigational Watch (OICNW), is physically on the bridge and is responsible for making all decisions regarding the safe navigation of the vessel. Hence, a vessel remains under 24 h direct human control. The Master is responsible for ensuring proper watchkeeping periods. These periods are detailed by IMO's STCW regulation VIII/2 and A-VIII/2. The OICNW is in charge of monitoring all ship systems pertaining to safety, weather, communication, navigation, and traffic management. He/she is certified in Radar, Electronic Chart Navigation, vessel communications, and vessel security among many other things. The OICNW is responsible for executing proper orders in accordance with COLREGs and the Master's standing orders. Licensed Deck Officers have substantial amounts of daily onboard duties and responsibilities that might not be considered when the topic of reducing manning is addressed. These vary greatly by the type of vessel and the nature of her work. Some of these typical duties include:  
* Bridge Watch. Typical watch rotation consists of 4 h on watch, 8 h off watch throughout a 24 h day. 6 h on watch and 6 h off watch [31] is also common, but more so on inland waterways and tug vessels
* 3/M typically stands the 0800-1200 and 2000-2400 bridge watch and is normally the Damage Control Officer. This is the person in charge of all fire-fighting and chemical, biological, and radiological defense (CBR-D) equipment onboard the vessel
* 2/M normally stands the 0000-0400 and 1200-1600 bridge watch and is the vessel's Navigator. These responsibilities include voyage planning and updating and maintaining all navigational equipment onboard. They are also responsible for onboard survival craft equipment, which includes: lifeboats, life-rings, emergency communication devices, and pyrotechnics
* A minimum of two Mates onboard must be licensed to operate and maintain the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), which contains all emergency and routine communication equipment onboard.