Second Officer

Second Officer is a rank used by the Royal Manticoran Merchant Marine.

Honorverse

In the Honorverse, a Second Officer, also known as Second Mate, is a deck officer holding a Certificate of Competency (Star Empire of Manticore and other star nations) or a License as Second Officer. They also hold an endorsement as Officer In Charge of a Navigation Watch. They are primarily a watch stander, standing watch on the bridge underway. They are the ship’s primary navigator, with duties including voyage planning as well as maintaining the charts and navigation publications.

Second Officers are considered Operational Level officers.

TRMN

In TRMN, a Second Officer is a merchant marine deck officer who has 1) completed their Second Officer exam (Line track) or Fourth Officer exam (Staff track), and 2) served as a Third Officer for fifteen months Time In Grade, after which time they are eligible to be promoted to this rank by a promotion board.

Real World

A Second Mate, also known as Second Officer, is a licensed deck officer (US term) or certificated officer (UK term). As a deck officer they also hold an STCW endorsement as Officer In Charge of a Navigation Watch. They are primarily a watch stander, standing watch on the bridge underway. They are the ship’s primary navigator, with duties including voyage planning as well as maintaining the charts and navigation publications. They are also typically the ship’s medical officer. Second Officers are considered Operational Level officers.