The Master, as a shipboard manager, is in overall command of the vessel and personnel on board. Being the highest-ranking person, his duties and responsibilities cover the whole ship.
Technically speaking, he is the “owner’s representative“. He is responsible to the relevant Company Managers for all matters pertaining to the safe and efficient operation of the vessel.
Also called the Ship Captain or Ship Master, his decision must always lead to the safety of the ship, her crew, and the environment. That’s basic.
The company expects him to exercise good judgment that prioritizes safety, without regard for commercial considerations.
A Captain has the overriding authority, as well as the responsibility, to take any actions with respect to shipboard safety and pollution prevention. His decisions can be independent of shore intervention if necessary.
Why? Because he knows his ship and the situation better than someone ashore sitting behind a desk.
However, he may request and expect any and all necessary assistance, deemed appropriate, from the company.
Duties of a Ship Master
Imagine yourself as the Captain of a merchant vessel. What do you expect your job to be?
Would you be someone having the most freedom while enjoying a huge salary on board?
This may be partly true. But having the biggest pay, around USD12,000.00, also equates to having the biggest obligations.
As a Ship Master, you are responsible for implementing the company’s Safety Management System (SMS). You must ensure strict compliance with company policies, procedures, and instructions.
Additionally, there are also other parties like the charterers, inspectors, coast guards, and other authorities you have to deal with.
On the security side of the vessel, you also act as the Ship Security Officer, as per the requirement of the ISPS Code.
Responsibilities of a Merchant Vessel Captain
Responsibilities with the DPA
Since safety is always at the top of the ship’s priorities, it is important to be fully conversant with the company’s Safety Management System (SMS).
To accomplish that, you must interact with the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) through various means.
The most common form is through email and telephone. Sometimes, chat or other forms of electronic communication are also an option if the preferred ones malfunction.
As the ship captain, you must follow his guidance and advice on matters related to safety, security, and environmental protection.
Incident Reporting and Follow-ups
Since accidents and near-miss incidents happen on ships, part of your job is to analyze and report them.
This includes non-conformities and/ or hazardous occurrences. In relation to that, you must also know which persons or parties to contact in case of real emergencies.
With advice and approval from company superintendents, you should recommend and apply corrective actions to prevent its recurrence.
While being a Master Mariner may not be the best job out there, it does offer one of the best salaries.
Good email and communication skills are important, as much of the job involves correspondence.
Responsibilities to the Crew
Here are various responsibilities that the Ship Master has towards his crew.
a) Ensuring that all crew members are aware of, and instructed in, the Company’s policies, procedures, and instructions.
b) Motivating the crew in observation of such policies while issuing appropriate orders and instructions.
c) Ensuring that safe working practices are in place to minimize risks to the crew, the vessel, the environment, and the cargo.
d) The Ship Master is responsible for the safety of the ship and everything in it. He must guarantee that all personnel under his command are suitably qualified and experienced. Furthermore, they must be properly familiarized with their duties and responsibilities, especially during emergencies including emergency alarm signals.
e) The Captain is given authority to promote deserving crew onboard. Thus, he conducts periodic evaluations of the deck crew including the Chief Engineer for their performance.
f) Ensuring discipline and harmony among crew members. Discuss with them their individual problems if they want to.
Checklists and Record-Keeping
g) Issuing “Night Orders” and ensuring that responsible officers duly acknowledge and implement them.
h) Maintaining the deck log book while recording all relevant events, accidents, and incidents. He is duty-bound to take measures that minimize or avoid hazardous situations.
i) Together with the Officers, he is also responsible for overseeing drills, training for fire fighting, anti-pollution, flooding, abandon ship, and other emergencies. These drills must be in accordance with international and national regulations and the Company’s policies. Most importantly, it must be recorded in the appropriate logbook.
j) Ensuring that pre-arrival and pre-departure checks are carried out. All navigational instruments, machinery, ballasting, anti-pollution, and safety devices must be in satisfactory condition. The Master must maintain records in the appropriate record books.
Responsibilities to the Ship
k) Aside from documentation, the Master must also conduct proper and timely maintenance of the vessel. He must pay particular attention to the condition of the hull, all steel works, and safety systems.
l) Safe navigation and operation of the vessel at all stages of the voyage, i.e. from beginning to end. This includes reviewing/ approving the passage plan before the commencement of the voyage. He must also be fully familiar with marine meteorology.
m) Ensuring that the vessel proceeds to sea in a seaworthy condition and that load line rules are adhered to.
n) Since the vessel goes out to sea for a long time, the captain must keep the ship adequately stored. The ship and crew must have enough provisions and supply including enough bunker for the voyage.
o) He must attend to stability information on board. Distribution of cargo and ballast especially during loading, discharging, and ballasting operations must be closely monitored. He must also ascertain the record-keeping of the vessel’s stresses and stability.
Responsibilities to the Company and External Parties
p) As the highest ranking member of the shipboard organization, he must report to the company on the progress of implementation of the policies and procedures. Recommending appropriate improvements, if required.
q) He must adhere to and follow all Flag State, international, local, and Classification Society Rules, Laws, and Regulations. Thus, he must check that all ship’s certificates and publications are valid, advising the company of their expiring dates.
r) The Master’s duty extends beyond the ships. He must ensure effective communication and working relationships between vessel staff and shore personnel. This includes owners, authorities, surveyors, and others having a legitimate business onboard.
s) He must ensure that the vessel performs to the satisfaction of the owners and charterers. Thus, he must give all possible assistance to the Charterers, their representatives, and authorities.
Do you still want to become a Master Mariner?
The duties and responsibilities of a Master are overwhelming. Aside from that, the process of becoming a captain is also difficult.
However, they have the authority to delegate any of the foregoing responsibilities on a day-to-day basis.
Thus, his duties are assigned to the Officers whom he considers suitably qualified and experienced.
For example, the Chief Officer takes care of cargo operation and deck maintenance. Second Mate is in charge of the voyage plan. And the Third Officer, safety and firefighting equipment.
He still retains overall responsibility for the ship at all times.
His main job is actually to “oversee” that everything listed above is followed correctly. That is why he is in the management position on the board.
All Masters of merchant vessels share the responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of their crew.
Although the job orders may be generic, the specific documents and tasks required may vary depending on the type of ship.
Salary and Risks
The Ship Master’s salary ranges from $8,500.00 to $16,000.00 depending on the company, CBA, and ship type. It’s actually quite high, and even one of the highest among many professions.
But aside from the responsibilities, there are also risks involved.
If something happens to the vessel, the captain is initially held liable unless proven otherwise.
Remember also that when you sail across high-risk areas without private maritime securities on board and pirates successfully hijack your vessel, they will immediately look for you!
Is the salary still worth the risk?
That’s another topic someday.
If you want to fast track on becoming a ship master, try enrolling in maritime scholarship programs.
May the winds be in your favor.
A family man, he loves writing, reading, investing, and watching the golden hours while sailing.
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