This is actually meant as a definition but will most then likely include more then that. I am starting this thread so that folks who do not know or are not in the Maritime Industry can get an accurate description of what a Captain does and his responsibilities. I have read several threads that ask similar questions into what Captain Smith's duty was that night. So for the record and as a Captain I am going to give you a what is expected of a Captain regardless of the company that he works for.
Remeber that a Captains primary duty is to: "Ensure the Safe and Prudent Navigation of his vessel." This covers several things. We will start with the word "Ensure..".
ENSURE:Meaning to have total and complete control over every aspect of the vessel and it's handling. Or in basic terms that means getting the ship from point A to point B regardless of weather or any other factor and have complete control of every situation at all times. This is one of the many reasons that Captains don't stand a watch.
In order for a Captain to keep an accurate picture of how the entire ship is operating he has to be removed from 99% of the daily routine duty. That way he can see things that are wrong, while not directly having anything to do with a particular job. A good example is daily navigation. By not being the sole person doing all of the plotting and trip setting, he can look at somebody elses work rather then his own, this makes it easier to spot mistakes. It is easier to catch somebody esles mistakes then it is your own. Keep in mind although the Captain doesn't do all of the daily navigation he is still responsible for making sure that it is done correctly.
ENSURE + SAFE: This is a real kicker. This means that the Captain is also responsible for every aspect of safety. From the carpet in a remote passageway or stateroom, to making sure that the lifeboats are properly maintained. It also includes making sure that the crew is trained correctly and that they carry out there duties in the event of an emergency. That further means that if somebody along the line doesn't do there job and a passenger gets hurt, it is the Captain who takes the hit for it.
The phrase safe also includes how the ship his handled. Examples are making sure the ship is doing the correct things when it comes to dangerous weather, and that the crew is performing the required tasks that dangerous weather can represent. Examples:
FOG:Making sure that the ships radars are being used to the fullest of there capabilities. Making sure that the crew is aware of the fog and maintaining an extra lookout. The appropraite sound signal is being sounded. Making sure the ship is traveling at a safe speed in accordance with the weather.
HEAVY SEAS: Making sure that the ship is buttoned up tight. Making sure that the passengers are aware and that crew are out and about to help elderly passengers get from place to place. Ensuring that the engines are running correctly and that emergency generators are standing by. Making sure that the crew on the bridge are being safe in the handling of the ship.
Some other things that are in the realm of safe are:
Making sure the ship is moored correctly.
Making sure that the ship is being towed correctly.
Keeping the ship SAFE requires that you rely on other key members of the ships staff. The Chief Engineer, the Safety Officer, the Chief Officer and Staff Captain. It also requires that you keep the "big picture". A Capain can't afford to concentrate on one problem because if he does others will appear and be ignored. Those are the deadly ones. Plus he can get a clearer picture of what is going on with the whole ship and the best way to make all of the pieces of the puzzle that is ship board opertation fit togther.
ENSURE THE SAFE+ AND PRUDENT NAVIGATION:This is actually four part. Prudent doesn't always mean safe. Sometimes Captains have to take risks that will benefit the ship as a whole but injure some as a result. It also means making the safest decision for all concerned.
Navigation is just that. Getting the ship from Point A to point B safely. Not running aground, not getting lost, and not running into ships or anything else (that includes icebergs). That means every aspect of making sure the ship gets there. From the engines being fully maintained to the helmsman not running into something.
No I am going to throw in what some here have called the "Ismay Factor". Not using Ismay in specific but his job in general.
Ship Captains keep there job by getting what ever it is that they are carrying to point B from point A the quickest with the least amount of cost. Safety although the biggest part of a captains job isn't always the driving force behind the decisions that a captain makes.
Captain Dave Brown has a couple expamples in stories (that are not stories on things he has done) that I have heard him tell. Hopefully he will pipe up.
Further in the passenger trade a Captain is responsible for keeping the passengers happy. Everything from the food, to the cleanness of rooms to the fun they have on shore excursions. This was especially so in the era that Captain Smith was alive. That was the era when passengers picked captains and not ships.
Now comes that question that I know everybody wants to hear the answer to: What was Captain Smiths responsibilty that night?
Well here is the list:
Making sure that the lookouts where looking out.
Making sure that the ship was traveling at a safe speed.
Making sure that his officers where aware that the ship would eventually run into ice.
Making sure that his ship stayed on course.
And last but definitly not least, what I believe drove Smith to act the way he did, To get the ship from Point A to Point B as quickly as humanly possible.
Did Smith do his duty that night? I will let you all come up with what you think. But I think for the most part he did his job. He was without a doubt negligent in his use of speed. But then again that is by today's standards. Remeber that frequently even today warnings are just that. A warning. Until I see it I am not going to react and possibly delay my arrival because of something that I am not even sure is going to be there when I get there. That to me is the attitude that Smith had in regards to the ice.
I hope that this clarifies things a little.
Erik
Remeber that a Captains primary duty is to: "Ensure the Safe and Prudent Navigation of his vessel." This covers several things. We will start with the word "Ensure..".
ENSURE:Meaning to have total and complete control over every aspect of the vessel and it's handling. Or in basic terms that means getting the ship from point A to point B regardless of weather or any other factor and have complete control of every situation at all times. This is one of the many reasons that Captains don't stand a watch.
In order for a Captain to keep an accurate picture of how the entire ship is operating he has to be removed from 99% of the daily routine duty. That way he can see things that are wrong, while not directly having anything to do with a particular job. A good example is daily navigation. By not being the sole person doing all of the plotting and trip setting, he can look at somebody elses work rather then his own, this makes it easier to spot mistakes. It is easier to catch somebody esles mistakes then it is your own. Keep in mind although the Captain doesn't do all of the daily navigation he is still responsible for making sure that it is done correctly.
ENSURE + SAFE: This is a real kicker. This means that the Captain is also responsible for every aspect of safety. From the carpet in a remote passageway or stateroom, to making sure that the lifeboats are properly maintained. It also includes making sure that the crew is trained correctly and that they carry out there duties in the event of an emergency. That further means that if somebody along the line doesn't do there job and a passenger gets hurt, it is the Captain who takes the hit for it.
The phrase safe also includes how the ship his handled. Examples are making sure the ship is doing the correct things when it comes to dangerous weather, and that the crew is performing the required tasks that dangerous weather can represent. Examples:
FOG:Making sure that the ships radars are being used to the fullest of there capabilities. Making sure that the crew is aware of the fog and maintaining an extra lookout. The appropraite sound signal is being sounded. Making sure the ship is traveling at a safe speed in accordance with the weather.
HEAVY SEAS: Making sure that the ship is buttoned up tight. Making sure that the passengers are aware and that crew are out and about to help elderly passengers get from place to place. Ensuring that the engines are running correctly and that emergency generators are standing by. Making sure that the crew on the bridge are being safe in the handling of the ship.
Some other things that are in the realm of safe are:
Making sure the ship is moored correctly.
Making sure that the ship is being towed correctly.
Keeping the ship SAFE requires that you rely on other key members of the ships staff. The Chief Engineer, the Safety Officer, the Chief Officer and Staff Captain. It also requires that you keep the "big picture". A Capain can't afford to concentrate on one problem because if he does others will appear and be ignored. Those are the deadly ones. Plus he can get a clearer picture of what is going on with the whole ship and the best way to make all of the pieces of the puzzle that is ship board opertation fit togther.
ENSURE THE SAFE+ AND PRUDENT NAVIGATION:This is actually four part. Prudent doesn't always mean safe. Sometimes Captains have to take risks that will benefit the ship as a whole but injure some as a result. It also means making the safest decision for all concerned.
Navigation is just that. Getting the ship from Point A to point B safely. Not running aground, not getting lost, and not running into ships or anything else (that includes icebergs). That means every aspect of making sure the ship gets there. From the engines being fully maintained to the helmsman not running into something.
No I am going to throw in what some here have called the "Ismay Factor". Not using Ismay in specific but his job in general.
Ship Captains keep there job by getting what ever it is that they are carrying to point B from point A the quickest with the least amount of cost. Safety although the biggest part of a captains job isn't always the driving force behind the decisions that a captain makes.
Captain Dave Brown has a couple expamples in stories (that are not stories on things he has done) that I have heard him tell. Hopefully he will pipe up.
Further in the passenger trade a Captain is responsible for keeping the passengers happy. Everything from the food, to the cleanness of rooms to the fun they have on shore excursions. This was especially so in the era that Captain Smith was alive. That was the era when passengers picked captains and not ships.
Now comes that question that I know everybody wants to hear the answer to: What was Captain Smiths responsibilty that night?
Well here is the list:
Making sure that the lookouts where looking out.
Making sure that the ship was traveling at a safe speed.
Making sure that his officers where aware that the ship would eventually run into ice.
Making sure that his ship stayed on course.
And last but definitly not least, what I believe drove Smith to act the way he did, To get the ship from Point A to Point B as quickly as humanly possible.
Did Smith do his duty that night? I will let you all come up with what you think. But I think for the most part he did his job. He was without a doubt negligent in his use of speed. But then again that is by today's standards. Remeber that frequently even today warnings are just that. A warning. Until I see it I am not going to react and possibly delay my arrival because of something that I am not even sure is going to be there when I get there. That to me is the attitude that Smith had in regards to the ice.
I hope that this clarifies things a little.
Erik
