163. The duties of a chief engineer upon taking charge of the department include __________.

The chief engineer's initial duty upon assuming charge is to verify the operational status of vital engine room equipment, as this directly impacts the vessel's safety and operational readiness. This immediate assessment of critical machinery takes precedence over administrative tasks like inventory management, personnel lists, or obtaining regulatory certificates, which are secondary concerns. The Certificate of Inspection is the responsibility of the master and owner, not the chief engineer.