Question 41 CEL01 - Chief Engineer - Limited

The Correct Answer is C. **Why Option C is correct:** When a future senior officer is participating in Builder's Sea Trials (BST), they are primarily acting as an early representative and future end-user on behalf of the vessel owner (the client). The BST are contractual performance tests conducted by the shipyard to prove to the owner that the vessel meets the specifications. 1. **"Observe, note any deficiencies you may feel exist..."**: The officer's core duty is to act as the owner's "eyes and ears," identifying anything that appears substandard, non-compliant, or potentially problematic for future operation. 2. **"...convey them to your vessel owner's representatives."**: The officer's direct reporting line is always to their employer (the vessel owner) or the owner's authorized representative (such as the Project Manager, Technical Superintendent, or the New Construction Team lead). The owner's representatives are the ones legally and contractually empowered to formally accept or reject test results, issue deficiency reports (punch lists), and authorize payment. The officer's role is observational and advisory to their own team, not executive or regulatory. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **A) Observe, report any possible deficiencies to the representatives of the regulatory bodies present.** * **Incorrect:** Regulatory bodies (like Classification Societies or Flag State surveyors) are present to ensure compliance with mandatory safety and environmental rules. While they note deficiencies related to regulation, they are independent third parties and are not responsible for enforcing the contractual performance standards between the shipyard and the owner (which is the primary focus of the officer's role during BST). The officer's direct contractual duty is to the owner, not the regulator. * **B) Observe, report any possible deficiencies to shipyard representatives and regulatory body representatives.** * **Incorrect:** This combines the errors of A and D. Reporting directly to the regulatory bodies is incorrect (as explained above). Reporting directly to the shipyard representatives without channeling the information through the owner's authorized liaison (Project Manager) can confuse the contractual process and dilute the owner's formal position. The formal line of communication for deficiencies to the shipyard must come from the owner's official representative, not the witnessing crew member. * **D) Observe and convey your comments of any possible deficiencies to the shipyard representative conducting the test.** * **Incorrect:** While informal, operational discussions might occur on the spot, the formal process of identifying and reporting deficiencies (the "punch list") is strictly managed by the vessel owner's new construction or project management team. Reporting deficiencies directly and formally to the shipyard bypasses the owner's project manager/representative, who holds the contractual authority to accept or reject the tests and manage the resulting remediation process. The officer reports to the owner; the owner reports to the shipyard.