Asea captain,ship's captain,captain,master, orshipmaster, is a high-gradelicensed mariner who holds ultimate command and responsibility of a merchant vessel.^[1] The captain is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the ship, including its seaworthiness, safety and security, cargo operations, navigation, crew management, and legal compliance, and for the persons and cargo on board.^[2]

Sea captain

The master works with theharbour pilot, thechief mate and anable seaman during inner navigation aboard the vesselKristina Regina.
General
Other names	Ship's captain, ship's master, shipmaster, captain, master
Department	Deck department
Location	At sea
Licensed	Yes
Duties	In charge of amerchant ship.
Requirements	master's license orextra master's license orcommissioned officer
Watchstanding
Watchstander	If needs

The captain ensures that the ship complies with local and international laws and complies also with company andflag state policies. The captain is ultimately responsible, under the law, for aspects of operation such as the safe navigation of the ship, its cleanliness and seaworthiness, safe handling of all cargo, management of all personnel, inventory of ship's cash and stores, and maintaining the ship's certificates and documentation.^[1]

One of a shipmaster's particularly important duties is to ensure compliance with the vessel's security plan, as required by theInternational Maritime Organization'sISPS Code. The plan, customized to meet the needs of each individual ship, spells out duties including conducting searches and inspections, maintaining restricted spaces, and responding to threats from terrorists, hijackers, pirates, and stowaways. The security plan also covers topics such asrefugees andasylum seekers, smuggling, and saboteurs.^[1]

On ships without apurser, the captain is in charge of the ship'saccounting. This includes ensuring an adequate amount of cash on board, coordinating the ship's payroll (including draws and advances), and managing the ship'sslop chest.^[1]

On international voyages, the captain is responsible for satisfying requirements of the localimmigration andcustoms officials. Immigration issues can include situations such as embarking and disembarking passengers, handling crew members who desert the ship, making crew changes in port, and making accommodations for foreign crew members. Customs requirements can include the master providing a cargo declaration, a ship's stores declaration, a declaration of crew members' personal effects, crew lists and passenger lists.^[1]

The captain has special responsibilities when the ship or its cargo are damaged or when the ship causes damage to other vessels or facilities. The master acts as a liaison to local investigators and is responsible for providing complete and accurate logbooks, reports, statements and evidence to document an incident. Specific examples of the ship causing external damage include collisions with other ships or with fixed objects, grounding the vessel, and dragging anchor. Some common causes of cargo damage include heavy weather, water damage, pilferage, and damage caused during loading/unloading by thestevedores.^[1]

All persons on board including public authorities, crew, and passengers are under the captain's authority and are his or her ultimate responsibility, particularly during navigation. In the case of injury or death of a crew member or passenger, the master is responsible to address any medical issues affecting the passengers and crew by providing medical care as possible, cooperating with onshore medical personnel, and, if necessary, evacuating those who need more assistance than can be provided on board the ship.^[1]

There is a common belief that ship captains have historically been, and currently are, able to perform marriages. This depends on the country of registry, however, and most do not permit performance of a marriage by the master of a ship at sea.

In theUnited States Navy, a captain's powers are defined by its 1913 Code of Regulations, specifically stating: "The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft. He shall not permit a marriage ceremony to be performed on board when the ship or aircraft is outside the territory of the United States." However, there may be exceptions "in accordance with local laws and the laws of the state, territory, or district in which the parties are domiciled" and "in the presence of a diplomatic or consular official of the United States, who has consented to issue the certificates and make the returns required by the consular regulations."^[3]

Furthermore, in theUnited States, there have been a few contradictory legal precedents: courts did not recognize a shipboard marriage inCalifornia's 1898Norman v. Norman but did inNew York's 1929Fisher v. Fisher (notwithstanding the absence of municipal laws so carried)^[4][5] and in 1933'sJohnson v. Baker, anOregon court ordered the payment of death benefits to a widow because she had established that her marriage at sea was lawful.^[6] However, inFisher v. Fisher the involvement of the ship's captain was irrelevant to the outcome.^[7]New Jersey's 1919Bolmer v. Edsall said a shipboard marriage ceremony is governed by the laws of the nation where ownership of the vessel lies.^[8]

In theUnited Kingdom, the captain of a merchant ship has never been permitted to perform marriages, although from 1854 any which took place had to be reported in the ship's log.^[9][10] A ship's master can, however, conduct a church service, regardless of any clergy aboard.^[11]

Spanish andFilipino law, as narrow exceptions, recognise a marriagein articulo mortis (on the point of death) solemnized by the captain of a ship or chief of an aeroplane during a voyage, or by the commanding officer of a military unit.^[12][13]

Japan allows ship captains to perform a marriage ceremony at sea, but only for Japanese citizens.Malta,Bermuda, and theBahamas permit captains of ships registered in their jurisdictions to perform marriages at sea.^[14][15][16]Princess Cruises, whose ships are registered in Bermuda, has used this as a selling point for their cruises, whileCunard moved the registration of its shipsQueen Mary 2,Queen Victoria andQueen Elizabeth fromSouthampton to Bermuda in 2011 to allow marriages to be conducted on their ships.^[17][18]

Some captains obtain other credentials (such as ordination as ministers of religion or accreditation as notaries public), which allow them to perform marriages in some jurisdictions where they would otherwise not be permitted to do so.^[19] Another possibility is a wedding on a ship in port, under the authority of an official from that port.

In works of fiction, ship captains have performed marriages in various media, including the 1951 filmThe African Queen, and episodes ofThe Love Boat,How I Met Your Mother,The Office and variousStar Trek series.^[19]

Master Mariner certification is regulated internationally under theSTCW Convention, specifically Regulation II/2 sets out requirements for Master Mariners.^[20] Master mariners can possess either an unlimited certification/licence or one restricted based on tonnage of the ship. Certification is given by national authorities, typically following completion of minimum necessary seatime and a course of approved training, based on the IMO model course.^[21]

Many maritime countries have private or charitable organisations and associations for Master Mariners. These primarily include organisations to represent Masters in the industry. An example of a national organisation is the UKHonourable Company of Master Mariners.^[22] The international parent and representative body is theInternational Federation of Shipmasters' Associations which has consultative status at theInternational Maritime Organization.^[23]

As of 2008, the U.K.Learning and Skills Council lists annual salaries for senior deck officers as ranging from £22,000 to over £50,000 per year.^[24] The Council characterizes job opportunities for senior deck officers as "generally good" and expects a "considerable increase" in the job market over the next few years.^[24]

As of 2013, captains of U.S.-flagged deep sea vessels make up to US$1,500 per day, or US$80,000 to US$300,000 per year.^[25] Captains of smaller vessels in the inland and coastal trade earn between US$350 and US$700 per day, or US$65,000 to $180,000 per year.^[25] Captains of large ferries average US$56,794 annually.^[25]

In 2005, 3,393 mariners held active unlimited master's licenses. Of these, 87 held near-coastal licenses with unlimited tonnage, 291 held unlimited tonnage master's licenses on inland and Great Lakes waters, while 1,044 held unlimited licenses upon inland waters only. Some 47,163 active masters licenses that year had tonnage restrictions, well over half of those being for near-coastal vessels of up to 100 tonsgross tonnage.^[26]

As of 2006, some 34,000 people were employed as captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in the United States.^[27] The U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% growth in this occupation, expecting demand for 40,000 shipmasters in 2016.^[27]

Uniforms are worn aboard many ships, or aboard any vessels of traditional and organized navigation companies, and are required by company regulation on passenger and cruise vessels.^{[citation needed]}

In the passenger-carrying trade a unified corporate image is often desired and it is useful for those unfamiliar with the vessel to be able to identify members of the crew and their function. Some companies and some countries use anexecutive curl similar to that of theRoyal Navy.^{[citation needed]}

In the United States, and in numerous other maritime countries, captains and officers of shipping companies may wear amerchant navy ormerchant marine regular uniform in conjunction with their employment.^{[citation needed]}

Rank insignia for sea captains

•  
  Greece
•  
  Italy (ships over 20,000 GRT)
•  
  Poland
•  
  United Kingdom

In a few countries, such as UK, USA and Italy, some captains with particular experience in navigation andcommand at sea, may be namedcommodore orsenior captain orcaptain senior grade.^{[citation needed]}

The termmaster is descended from the Latinmagisternavis, used during the imperial Roman age to designate the nobleman (patrician) who was in ultimate authority on board a vessel. Themagister navis had the right to wear thelaurus orcorona laurèa and thecorona navalis. Carrying on this tradition, the modern-day shipmaster of some nations wearsgoldenlaurelleaves orgoldenoakleaves on the visor of his cap.^{[citation needed]}

Askipper (sometimes also serving as thehelmansperson,helmsman, ordriver) is a person who hascommand of aboat orwatercraft ortug, more or less equivalent to "captain in charge aboardship." At sea, or upon lakes and rivers, the skipper as shipmaster or captain has command over the whole crew. The skipper may or may not be the owner of the boat.^{[citation needed]}

The word is derived from theDutch wordschipper;schip is Dutch for "ship". In Dutchsch- is pronounced[sx] and English-speakers rendered this as[sk].^{[citation needed]}

The word "skipper" is used more than "captain" for some types of craft, for examplefishing boats.^{[citation needed]}

It is also more frequently used than captain with privately owned noncommercial or semi-commercial vessels, such as smallyachts and other recreational boats, mostly in cases where the person in command of the boat may not be a licensed or professional captain, suggesting the term is less formal. In the U.S., a "skipper" who is in command of a charter vessel that carries paying passengers must be licensed by a state or theUnited States Coast Guard. If the vessel carries over six paying passengers, it must be an "inspected vessel" and a higher class license must be obtained by the skipper/master depending on the vessel's gross tons.^{[citation needed]}

In theRoyal Navy,Royal Marines,U.S. Navy,U.S. Marine Corps,U.S. Coast Guard, and merchant naval slang, it is a term used in reference to thecommanding officer of any ship, base, or other command regardless of rank. It is generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker's respect, and only used with the permission of the commander/commanding officer in question.^{[citation needed]}

Skipper RNR was an actual rank used in theBritishRoyal Naval Reserve for skippers of fishing boats who were members of the service. It was equivalent toWarrant Officer. Skippers could also be promoted to Chief Skipper RNR (equivalent toCommissioned Warrant Officer) and SkipperLieutenant RNR.^{[citation needed]}

• The captain goes down with the ship – Maritime tradition
• Bottomry – Arrangement in which the master of a ship borrows money using the ship as collateral
• Maritime pilot – Mariner who maneuvers ships through dangerous or congested waters
• List of sea captains
• Pilot in command – Flight crew role
• Category:Fictional captains

• Aragon, James R.; Messer, Tuuli Anna (2001).Master's handbook on ship's business. Cambridge, Md: Cornell Maritime Press.ISBN 0-87033-531-6.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S.A.) (2014)."Water Transportation Occupations".Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition. Government Printing Office. Retrieved2014-08-19.
• Commonwealth of Australia (2008)."Ship's Master".Job Guide. Archived fromthe original on 2009-01-08. Retrieved2009-03-01.
• Hayler, William B. (2003).American Merchant Seaman's Manual. Cornell Maritime Press.ISBN 0-87033-549-9.
• International Maritime Organization (1995) [1978]."II: Standards Regarding the Master and Deck Department".International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978. Section A–II/1.
• Learning and Skills Council (2005)."Merchant Navy Deck Officer Job Profile".Careers Advice Website. London: United Kingdom. Archived fromthe original on 2008-09-17. Retrieved2008-10-21.
• Pelletier, James Laurence (2007).Mariner's Employment Guide. Augusta, Maine: Marine Techniques.ISBN 978-0-9644915-0-2.
• Turpin, Edward A.; McEwen, William A. (1980).Merchant Marine Officers' Handbook (4th ed.). Centreville, MD: Cornell Maritime Press.ISBN 0-87033-056-X.

•   Media related toShip captains at Wikimedia Commons
•   The dictionary definition ofsea captain at Wiktionary