A SHIPMASTER

A shipmaster also known as a sea captain or simply a captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel.

He is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the vessel including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag state policies.

All the personnel on board a ship, who include officers and crew, other shipboard staff members, passengers, guests and pilots, are under the shipmasters authority and are his ultimate responsibility.

A shipmaster is responsible for commanding and managing all ship's personnel, and is typically in charge of the ship's accounting, payrolls, and inventories. He is responsible for compliance with immigration and customs regulations, maintaining the ship's certificates and documentation, compliance with the vessel's security plan, as mandated by the International Maritime Organization. He has responsibility for responding to and reporting any cases of accidents and incidents, and in case of injuries and illness among the ship's crew and passengers.

A shipmaster / captain must have a master's license or certificate, issued by the ship's flag state, or a state licensing authority if operating within "non-federal" waters. Various types of licenses exist, specifying the maximum vessel size indicated in gross tonnage and in what geographic areas the captain can operate.

 An unlimited master's license or certificate (usually known as a master mariner's certificate) allows the captain to operate any vessel worldwide. Restricted tonnage licenses include vessel categories down to 100 tons gross tonnage and below.

Examples of licenses with restricted geographic scope include those issued by the United States Coast Guard for the Great Lakes, inland waters, and near coastal waters or issued by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency for near coastal voyages.

A candidate for an unlimited master's license requires several years of seagoing experience as a deck officer and must have completed various nautical studies at a maritime college or academy

Shipmasters are some of the highly remunerated people in the world……………….