officer of the watch

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. the officer primarily responsible for the navigation of a ship, in the absence of the captain, during a certain watch.

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Example Sentences

This was "designed to alert others if the officer of the watch doesn't respond to something, such as another vessel approaching", or to a person "falling asleep or becoming incapacitated".

From BBC

In port, a sub will typically employ a roving watch for security using a young enlisted sailor, as well as a petty officer of the watch and an officer of the deck on the quarterdeck to check ID cards of crew members and visitors attempting to board and disembark.

From Fox News

The officer of the watch did not spot until it was too late the MV Priscilla had moved from its planned route.

From BBC

“Lay him in the guardroom,” the sentry told them, and as they did so, he turned the crank of the telephone bell and reported what was happening to the officer of the watch.

From Literature

Savage was killed by Navy security forces aboard the USS Mahan after he disarmed the ship’s petty officer of the watch and used her gun to shoot Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Mayo.

From Time