A ship’s captain is fully responsible for the ship, the crew and the safety on board. This reputed professional works with his own staff and mates. As a team, they make certain that safety measures are practised and that all protocols are followed. It is worth mentioning that the captain also responsible is for the unloading and loading of cargo and passengers.
The job of captain requires either an accredited post-secondary degree, or equivalent job experience. In addition, one may also need an additional license. A career as captain may appeal to people with interests in naval science, travel, boats and cruise ships.
A captain holds the responsibility for the entire vessel. Under his command, the crew members are closely linked to each other. The captain oversees the crew and the passengers, in addition to the basic operations on the ship. Next to this, he’s responsible for the communication with other ships. It won’t be wrong to say that the captain is the ultimate authority for everyone on the ship, including passengers, crew, mates and officers. Last but not least, the captain controls the amount of pollution made by the ship.
Without any doubt, the captain is responsible for the safety of the ship’s cargo, crew and passengers. By navigating to determine a ship’s speed and specific location, the captain makes sure hazards can be avoided. A captain instructs that all kinds of safety regulations and maritime protocols are strictly followed.
A captain also supervises the basic maintenance tasks on the ship’s engines. Another responsibility of the captain is to adhere to the ship’s security plan, including procedures for hijackers, refugees, stowaways, terrorist threats, pirates and more. He maintains areas restricted and keeps them secure. A captain ensures cargo is properly stowed in accordance to various maritime regulations.
In addition to this, his job of ship captain requires the master to socialize with guests. He needs to record the ship’s passengers, cargo and movements. Captains are responsible for maintaining documentation and certificates. They also ensure that the ship complies with customers and immigration laws.
In common, a ship captain is required to complete a post-secondary education at an accredited merchant marine academy. A master’s bachelor’s or associate’s degree in marine engineering or marine science is offered by various maritime academies or colleges. Courses in these extensive degree programs may include navigation, logistics, management, maritime laws and maritime safety.
Prospective captains can choose from a wide range of majors including maritime technology and operations. These help look for reputed ship master jobs. A four-year marine-transportation program lays the foundation in mathematics, science and naval science. In addition to this, it also helps to learn the basics of sea internships and training.
It’s worth mentioning that maritime students need to pass all licensure competencies, such as Coast Guard credentials or Consolidate Merchant Mariner credentials. With these qualifications, a person is able to work as third mate. With enough experience, graduates can start to work as captain.
Another route a maritime student can take to become a captain is to gain experience. However, in this case, the person may have to work in several vessel master jobs up to 1,000 hours of deckhand.
Depending on the kind of ship commanded, a captain may require the United States Coast Guard license.
It’s worth mentioning that ship captains need to have great customer-services abilities, excellent problem-solving skills and diehard administrative and communicative skills. These phlegmatic professionals need to have a huge flexibility, the ability to adapt to various changing conditions and emergency situations. Extensive knowledge of maritime laws and regulations is also required.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, boat captain jobs are projected to grow in the next coming years. Authorities believe that there has been a faster than average growth projection in this work field. Depending on a person’s experience and qualifications, he can earn an average salary of US $73,760 per year. It’s worth mentioning that most job opportunities can be found near ports and coastal areas. However, captains may also consult shipping companies in their head offices in city areas.