"a" junior deck officer

**MSPR** · March 8th, 2009, 08:48 AM

Excuse me for my ignorance, as this is a very basic question.I know very little about ships and jobs. :

In a book, I read the following phrase:

The flowers were ceremoniously transferred to Janin, a junior deck officer, who delivered them and then sought out Claude Dessard.

Regarding Janin: what does "a" junior deck officer do? Is he like an errand boy or something?

In this case, Claude Dessard is the Third Mate (the junior deck officer).

Did I miss the point or is this just another case of a writer writing about something he doesn't know much about?

Thank you,

**c.captain** · March 8th, 2009, 11:42 AM

Master is the top o the pile of deck officers aboard ship and thus is the most senior

the chief mate is a senior officer and just below the master

2nd, 3rd mates are often all considered as junior officers although it isn't really appropriate to consider any well seasoned mate as being a junior but they still aren't senior either. The 3rd mate with the least amount of seatime is the most junior of the deck officers on a ship.

The absolute bottom of the pile is the deck cadet who is the lowest of lowly worms and needs to be kicked at every opportunity just because...

**Shellback** · March 8th, 2009, 02:38 PM

CMA Decky...I think that if I were you I would PM C.Captain and find out who he works for and avoid that company at all costs...

**c.captain** · March 8th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Shellback

CMA Decky...I think that if I were you I would PM C.Captain and find out who he works for and avoid that company at all costs...

Nuts to you Shellback...it was meant with humor. I was a deck cadet once upon a time myself in the bad old daze when ships were steampowered and chief mate's ate us for breakfast after their obligatory coffee and cigarette eye openers!

**Shellback** · March 8th, 2009, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by c.captain

Nuts to you Shellback...it was meant with humor. I was a deck cadet once upon a time myself in the bad old daze when ships were steampowered and chief mate's ate us for breakfast after their obligatory coffee and cigarette eye openers!

I took as jest and even sent you a pm to that effect..I thought it was very funny and thought that CMA Decky would think so too....

I guess I'm not communicating things very well these days...We used to have a lot of fun in here besides the serious information that we all share...