What is the role of the Engineer Duty Officer (EDO) during vessel operations?

The role of the Engineer Duty Officer (EDO) during vessel operations primarily involves granting permission for operations. This responsibility is critical to ensuring that all activities aboard the vessel adhere to established safety and procedural protocols. The EDO must assess whether the conditions are suitable for operations to proceed safely, whether that entails underway activities, maintenance tasks, or the handling of equipment. By evaluating various factors like operational readiness, crew competency, and environmental conditions, the EDO plays a crucial role in upholding safety standards and ensuring that all operations are conducted in accordance with regulations and best practices.

Other roles related to vessel operations, such as maintaining inventory or conducting shipboard training, are important but fall under different areas of responsibility. Supervising deck operations is also vital and typically handled by the deck officers, while the EDO specifically focuses on the engineering aspects of vessel operations and the permission that governs those activities.