First Officer

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

Honorverse

In the Honorverse, a First Officer, also known as Chief Officer, First Mate or Chief Mate, is a deck officer holding a Certificate of Competency (Star Empire of Manticore and other star nations) or a License as First Officer. They are primarily a watch stander, standing watch on the bridge underway, although on some ships they are day workers in charge of the cargo and cargo systems. They are the ship’s cargo expert, with duties including stability, loading and unloading of cargo, and upkeep of the cargo gear.

First Officers are considered Management Level officers.

TRMN

In TRMN, a First Officer is a merchant marine deck officer who has 1) completed their First Officer exam (Line track) or Third Officer exam (Staff track), and 2) served as a Second 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 First Officer, also known as Chief Officer, First Mate or Chief Mate, 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, although on older ships they were day workers in charge of the cargo and cargo systems. They are the ship’s cargo expert, with duties including stability, loading and unloading of cargo, and upkeep of the cargo gear such as the cargo cranes, cargo pumps (for tankers) and similar equipment.

First Officers are considered Management Level officers.