What responsibilities does the chief engineer have on a vessel?

The chief engineer's primary responsibility is to oversee all engineering operations and ensure compliance with regulations and standards. This includes managing the operation of all machinery within the engineering department, ensuring that engineering watchstanders are performing their duties correctly, and maintaining operational efficiency and safety on the vessel. The chief engineer is also responsible for the training and supervision of the engineering crew, conducting inspections, and managing maintenance schedules.

While managing the ship's fuel supply is indeed part of the engineering responsibilities, it is a subset of the broader tasks under the oversight domain. Navigating the vessel is a responsibility assigned to the deck officers, not the engineering department. Similarly, maintaining the ship's exterior falls under the purview of the deck crew, which includes the deck officers and crew responsible for hull maintenance and upkeep. Therefore, the comprehensive nature of overseeing all engineering operations and ensuring compliance makes this answer the most appropriate in defining the chief engineer's role.