MASTER’S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE SHIP

Hello friends! Today I would like to introduce to you the Master's duties and responsibilities on the ship:

Master's duties and responsibilities:

A)  Responsible for overseeing all work onboard

As the Master represents the interest of the company, he shall be responsible in ensuring that the necessary work is accomplished onboard and in accordance with existing laws and rules and regulations of the company.

B)   Responsible for ship’s operation and safe navigation

To ensure a safe voyage, the Master must abide by the condition and provisions of the laws relating to safe-keeping of the voyage and ensure that the necessary preparatory measures were undertaken prior thereto, especially when the ship is entering port, passing through a narrow channel, navigating under poor visibility and other threatening circumstances.

Before departure from a port, the Master must check the following to ensure that the ship navigates safely:

1.    That the hull, engine, drainage, steering apparatus, mooring apparatus, windlass, lifesaving equipment, radio equipment and other equipment and apparatuses are in good condition;

2.    That the cargoes/commodities loaded does not exceed the allowable weight;

3.    That the draft does not hamper ship safety;

4.    That supplies and provisions like fuel oil, fresh water, medicine and ship stores are adequate;

5.    That all charts, sailing direction and other papers are ready;

6.    That the necessary information and navigational notices are gathered;

7.    That all crewmembers are onboard and in the peak of health;

8.    That all guests and visitors are ensured to have left the vessel;

9.    That necessary preparation for the accomplishment of the voyage has been done;

C)   Maintain peace, order and discipline onboard

The Master is responsible in managing the working time of each crew, He must ensure that each is given a healthy working condition and harmonious relationship is maintained onboard.

In case of misconduct by any crewmember, the Master can exercise his disciplinary powers against him, in accordance with the POEA Rules on Discipline. Whenever disciplinary action is meted out to a crewmember, the Master must record such action in the vessel’s Log Book.

D)   Accomplishment of voyage

    The Master shall decide the sailing time from the port in accordance with the sailing instruction and operation direction. He must start to sail out as soon as possible for departure are completed and navigate to the next port of call without changing he schedule route, except in instances allowed by maritime laws.

E)   Responsible for GMDSS, Emergency Battery, Radar Transponder, EPIRB, etc.

The Master has full responsibility of the above-mentioned gadget/equipment. He shall ensure that they are properly maintained and operated only by persons authorized to do so. When the assigned GMDSS operator is indisposed, he shall appoint another crewmember in his stead until the former is capable of taking over.

F)    Determine the course and speed of the vessel

   The Master is responsible for determining the course and speed of the vessel. He must undertake that the vessel reaches its destination on time and must not change its course except for reasons allowed by law.

G)   Keep confidentiality of documents

 The Master must ensure confidentiality of documents and communications. He shall undertake that only those authorized shall be allowed to view important papers to safeguard the interest of the Owners and the Company whom the Master represents.

H)   Economic operation of the vessel

The Master must endeavor to promote the company’s interest by operating the vessel safely and economically by knowing fully well the ship’s construction and capacity. In navigation, he must strive to maximize the Owner’s profits by accomplishing the voyage on scheduled date and must endeavor to prevent losses by taking extra precautionary measures to avoid accidents and other catastrophic incidents.

I)     Handling of cargo and persons other than the passengers and crew;

  J)    Disposition of marine casualties;

   K)   Transmit emergency distress signals

  The Master has authority to transmit emergency distress signal if warranted by the situation.

L)    Rescue a ship when in distress

    The Master may use his best judgment and undertake to help a vessel in distress, but upon due consideration of his own vessel’s safety.

M)  Handling over responsibility (handling over duties to an officer of the Deck Department)

    

As Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the Master shall prepare a Hand Over Note before turnover of duties to any officer of the Dec Department. The Hand Over Note shall contain important matters such as the vessel’s present condition, peculiarities, equipment, seals, important/confidential documents, ship’s money, present voyage, and charter party. Cash on hand must be turned- over in the presence and the incoming Master.

N)   Grant of permission for going ashore

    During the stay of the ship in port, the Master shall use his best discretion to allow his crew to go ashore. However, half of officers and ratings of each department must stay onboard for safety reasons, such as when an immediate shifting or maneuvering needs to be done. The crew who went on shore leave must return on the specified time.

O)   Disposition in case of manpower shortage

The Master must immediately inform the company whenever there will be crew shortage as result of sickness or other emergencies.

P)    Prevent stowaways

Before sailing, the Master must ensure that all guests and visitors have left the vessel and that no unauthorized person are inside the ship.

Q)   Carry out burials at sea

 1. During unavoidable circumstances where burial at sea is inevitable in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws. He must keep close contact with the company and coordinate with the bereaved family.

R)   Put up a muster and implementing drills

The Master shall keep a record of all crewmembers under his command and from time to time implement drill for attending to emergencies.

S)    Work management

The Master shall be responsible for the management of crew work onboard. He must intensify crew morale by motivating each crewmember to perform his best and recognize good performance by good evaluation. He shall give the right orders and categorize the load given to each department. In giving out orders, crew safety must be of foremost consideration.

T)    Issuing orders for labor after working hours

Whenever work needs to be done after official working hours, the Master must give instructions in order to accomplish the work at hand.

U)   Education and guidance (OJT)

    The Master must give his crew opportunities to learn new things onboard.

V)   Shipboard accounting

The Master is the custodian of vessel fund and shall be accountable to the Owners on how it was spent. He shall keep a record of all vessel expenses for proper accounting when his term expires.

W)  Send and receive notices and inform everyone of said notices

The Master is responsible foe sending and receiving important vessel communication. He has the duty of disseminating all relevant information he received from the Agent, Principal or Ship Owners to his crew and vice-versa.

X)   Safeguarding of important documents

It is the Master’s responsibility to safeguard/keep important documents, especially those that are required by law to be presented to authorities. He shall also ensure that ship documents are all valid and /or updated on time.

Y)   Strictly follow foreign laws

Maritime laws, rules and regulations are different in each country. Thus, the Master must strive to observe each countries laws in good faith to avoid penalties for the vessel.

Z)    Adopt measures during emergencies

The Master shall take measures necessary to respond to emergencies though not expressly granted by this Instruction. In case un urgent situation arises, the Master need not ask prior permission from the Agent/Company, he can respond to the matter at hand using his best discretion and shall inform the company as soon as he is able to do so under the circumstances.

AA)               Turn over duties and responsibilities to the chief officer in his absence

In the absence of the Master, the Chief Officer takes over his duties. The Master in cases where he is indispose to perform his functions (e.g. sickness, shore leave, etc.) shall give proper instructions to the Chief Officer to ensure smooth vessel operations.


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