Who assigns authorizing officers to sign, issue and clear tags and labels?

• A. Executive Officer
• B. Safety Officer
• C. Commanding Officer
• D. Chief Engineer

Answer: (C)

The authority to assign people who can sign, issue, and clear safety tags and labels rests with the ship’s Commanding Officer. The CO holds the ultimate responsibility for safety and operational integrity, so they designate authorized officers who will manage the tagging program. These authorizing officers must be properly trained and trusted to apply tags correctly, issue them to the appropriate personnel, and clear them only when the condition requiring the tag has been resolved. While the Executive Officer or Safety Officer may oversee or suggest candidates and supervise the process, the final assignment of authorization comes from the Commanding Officer to ensure consistent, accountable control over equipment and procedures. This setup keeps tagging decisions aligned with policy, maintains an auditable record, and prevents unsafe operations.