Every ship, whether it is a freighter, tanker, or passenger ship, has a captain. Captains are in charge of all aspects of the ship's operation. They maintain discipline among the members of the crew and keep order aboard ship. They are fully responsible to the owners of the ship for the safety of the vessel, the crew, and the passengers or cargo. Captains are sometimes called masters.
While in port, the captain may act as the ship owner's agent in dealing with customs officials. The captain may pay and keep records of wages for the ship's other employees. The captain also supervises the members of the deck department.
The third mate takes care of the navigating bridge and the chartroom. The third mate is in charge of maintaining the signaling equipment and the life saving equipment. The second mate is traditionally the navigation officer. The first mate is the captain's most important assistant in assigning duties and maintaining order. The first mate plans the loading and unloading of cargo and assists the captain in taking the ship in and out of port.
Education and Training
The position of captain carries with it the ultimate responsibility for a ship. It is the most senior job in the merchant marine. Captains must attend an officer training school, qualify in a series of examinations over a period of many years, and possess the leadership qualities needed to run a large and complex organization.
The candidate should attend one of the maritime academies that provide officer training. These include the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the state academies in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Texas. Candidates for the U.S. Naval Academy or U.S. Merchant Marine Academy must be nominated by members of Congress. Applicants for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy are chosen on a competitive basis. The applicant must be between 17 and 22 years of age, single, a high school graduate, an American citizen, and in good physical condition.
The academies give 3 and 4 year training programs in nautical science and practical sea experience. The course of study includes navigation, mathematics, electronics, propulsion systems, electrical engineering, languages, history, and shipping management. Graduates are qualified to work as third mates in the merchant marine. Some also receive commissions as ensigns in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Graduates must then apply for U.S. Coast Guard certification in order to work on an American ship. This is a legal requirement for seamen and officers alike. To be certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, applicants must be citizens of the United States and possess health certificates from the U.S. Public Health Service.
Graduates of officer training programs enter the deck departments of their ships as third mates. They must be at least 19 years old. Then they can begin to work their way up through the ranks of third, second, and first mate to captain. They must pass a qualifying examination administered by the U.S. Coast Guard to be eligible for each promotion. In addition to the qualifying examination, prospective captains must fulfill U.S. Coast Guard stipulations regarding length of service. They must also qualify specifically for the size of the ship on which they have trained.
Getting the Job
Officers in the deck department succeed to the rank of captain only after many years of service. Those seeking positions as mates may go to their union hiring hall. Shipping companies maintain lists of those eligible for positions as captain. When an opening occurs, it is filled from these lists. Officers who have seniority are hired first.
Employment Outlook
Captains are already the highest ranking workers in the merchant marine. It may take many years to advance to this position.
The employment outlook for merchant marine officers is poor. The size of the U.S. fleet will continue to decrease. The fleet will carry even smaller proportions of international cargo because shippers can send goods more cheaply on foreign vessels. In addition, newer ships are designed to operate with much smaller crews. Innovations include automated controls and computerized monitoring systems. As a result, competition is extremely keen for existing jobs, and the demand for officers will be outweighed by the number of graduates of officer training school. Job prospects for merchant marine officers are expected to be better in offshore mineral and oil exploration.
Working Conditions
Captains are on call 24 hours a day. While in port, a 40 hour workweek is standard. The work is hazardous. The risk of falls, fire, collision, and sinking is always present. Harsh variations in temperature and violent storms are a part of life at sea. Captains travel extensively. However, they seldom have time to explore the ports they visit. They are away from home for long periods of time.
Earnings and Benefits
The wages for captains are highest on the largest ships. The average annual base pay for captains and mates ranges from $400 to $860 a week. Bonus wages account for an additional 50 percent of the basic annual wages.
Benefits include room and board, 18 to 30 days of vacation for every 30 days of work, medical care, and hospitalization insurance. Captains usually receive generous pensions through the shipping companies that employ them.
