The captain or ship's master: the highest authority at sea
Explore the role of the captain, or ship’s master, and discover why this figure is essential to safety, authority and order on board ferries.
When talking about ferries, passengers often focus on timetables, fares, cabins, on-board services or boarding procedures . Much less visible, yet essential to every journey, is the figure of the captain: not simply “the person steering the ship”, but the highest authority on board.
The ship’s master holds the highest position in the on-board hierarchy. It is a professional qualification, the highest rank among the ship’s officers, and the captain is ultimately responsible for everything concerning navigation, crew, passengers, cargo and safety. This responsibility is recognised both by the Navigation Code and by international regulations, in particular the STCW Convention (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers), which governs the training, certification and skills of maritime personnel.
What are the duties of a ship’s master?
The duties of the ship’s master can be grouped into three main areas: technical and management duties, representative duties and administrative duties.
Technical and management duties are those most closely linked to navigation. The captain assesses the route, weather and sea conditions, maritime traffic, communications with port authorities, the condition of the vessel and any other factor that may affect the safety of the voyage. The captain may decide to slow down, change a manoeuvre, wait before entering port or order specific procedures during boarding and disembarkation. For passengers, these decisions may result in waiting times or operational changes, but they are always based on the same priority: ensuring the safety of the ship and everyone on board.
Alongside the technical role, the captain also has a representative function. The ship’s master represents the vessel in dealings with the authorities, coordinates the crew and maintains order within the travelling community. On board, especially while at sea, the ship is an autonomous environment, governed by clear rules, roles and responsibilities. This is why the chain of command must be clearly defined: in an emergency, an operational difficulty or a critical situation, there must be one person able to make rapid and binding decisions.
The administrative aspect is perhaps less well known. The Navigation Code grants the ship’s master very broad authority: everyone on board is subject to the master’s authority. During navigation, the master is the head of the expedition and of the travelling community. In certain cases, the master may also act as a civil registrar, drawing up important records relating to births, deaths or disappearances at sea. In exceptional circumstances provided for by law, the master may even conduct a marriage or civil union.
These powers are far from symbolic. They give the ship a legal and practical organisation even when it is far from land. The captain may also exercise powers relating to safety and discipline on board. If a passenger behaves in a dangerous, disruptive or non-compliant manner, the captain may intervene to protect the crew and the other passengers. In the most serious cases, the captain may order the passenger to disembark or request the intervention of law enforcement authorities.
The reasons may vary: aggression, threats, refusal to comply with safety instructions, suspected possession of dangerous items, or medical situations requiring urgent care that cannot be provided on board. These are extreme measures, but they become necessary when the behaviour or condition of one person may compromise the safety of the voyage.
Why is it said that the captain must be the last to leave the ship?
One of the best-known responsibilities of the captain concerns the abandonment of a ship in danger. The saying that “the captain goes down with the ship” should not be taken literally, but it comes from an old and very concrete principle: the captain cannot put themselves first. They must first coordinate rescue operations, protect passengers and crew, and do everything possible to bring to safety the people entrusted to their responsibility.
The Navigation Code establishes that the ship’s master must be the last to abandon the vessel and, as far as possible, must also recover the ship’s papers, logbooks and valuables entrusted to their custody. It is the legal expression of an ethical principle: whoever is in command also has the duty to remain until the end, for as long as their presence may be useful in saving others.
The famous motto has its roots in nineteenth-century maritime tradition, when lifeboats and rescue equipment were often limited and discipline on board could make the difference between order and panic. This gave rise to the idea of the captain as a figure responsible until the very last moment, required to safeguard the lives of passengers and crew before their own.
For this reason, abandoning the ship prematurely is not simply a moral failing. If the ship’s master leaves a vessel in danger without being the last to disembark, they may be held criminally liable for their conduct. The law provides for particularly serious consequences when the vessel is used to transport passengers, because in such moments command is not only a technical function: it is a safeguard for collective safety.
Why is the captain’s role essential on ferries?
All of this helps explain why, during a ferry crossing, some decisions may appear rigid or non-negotiable. A ferry is not just a means of transport: it is a small community in motion, exposed to changing conditions and governed by precise procedures. The captain must balance punctuality, operations, safety, international regulations and responsibility towards all passengers.
Behind every departure and every arrival there are technical skills, legal obligations and decisions that often remain invisible to those travelling. The role of the captain, or ship’s master, remains central for this very reason: because at sea, organisation cannot be left to improvisation.
