Master

The master, commonly called the captain, is the person in command of a merchant ship and the ultimate authority aboard. All other officers and crew are subordinate, and the master carries final responsibility for the safe navigation and operation of the vessel, the safety and welfare of the crew and any passengers, the safe carriage of the cargo, and compliance with the law and with the company's procedures. This responsibility is personal and cannot be delegated away: while the master relies on the officers to keep watches and run departments, the accountability for what the ship does rests at the top.

The master's role blends seamanship, management and law. As a mariner, the master oversees navigation and ship handling, takes the con in the most demanding situations such as berthing and heavy weather, and directs the response to emergencies. As a manager, the master leads the crew, maintains discipline and standards, and acts as the vital link between ship and shore management. As a legal figure, the master represents the shipowner in many dealings, signs key documents such as the bill of lading and protests, is responsible for the ship's certificates and records, and interacts with pilots, port and Port State Control officers, agents and authorities in every port.

A cornerstone of the master's position is overriding authority. Under the ISM Code and long-standing tradition, the master has the right and the duty to take whatever decision he or she judges necessary for the safety of the ship and the protection of the environment, and to call on the company for assistance, even if that conflicts with commercial pressure to keep to schedule. Reaching the rank of master is the summit of a deck officer's career, achieved through years of sea time and successive Certificates of Competency up to the master's licence, and it demands not only technical mastery but sound judgement, leadership and a deep sense of responsibility.