Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Master
Master
e) Handling of tugs
b) The monitoring of the vessel’s movements by the master and/or OOW while
she is under
To conduct a ship’ must not be confused with being in command of a ship”. The
first expression refers to action, to a personal service being performed; the
second to a power The question whether a pilot has control of navigation is a
question of fact and not of law. The fact that a pilot has been given control of
the ship for navigational purposes does not mean that the pilot has superseded
the master.
The master is, and remains, in command; he is the authority aboard- he may,
and does, delegate pad of his authority to subordinates and to outside assistants
whom he employs to navigate his ship- i.e., pilots. A delegation of power is not
an abandonment of authority, but one way of exercising authority.
Important points that helps in querying the pilot’s intention:
a) The bridge team being aware of the difficulties and constraints of the pilotage
area
b) The pilot being aware of the characteristics and peculiarities of the ship.
c) The pilot being made familiar with the equipment at his disposal and aware of
the degree of support he can expect from the ship’s personnel
b) Has the pilot been informed of the location of lifesaving appliances provided
for his use?
d) Are the progress of the ship and the execution of orders being monitored by
the master and the officer of the watch?
a) Communication
e) Hand-over Briefings
f) Radio Communications
g) Language
h) Teamwork
Increasingly sea pilots are confronted with language difficulties and find
themselves alone bridges or ships for considerable periods.
Their ability to call the crew or cope with an emergency under these
circumstances is dangerously limited, and they must never be left unattended.
Ideally, the Master and his team will be aware of the pilot’s intentions and be in
a position to be able to query his actions at any stage of the passage. This can
only be brought about by:
a) The bridge team being aware of the difficulties and constraints of the
Pilotage area
b) The pilot being aware of the characteristics and peculiarities of the ship
The pilot being made familiar with the equipment at his disposal and aware of
the degree of support he can expect from the ship’s personnel.
The International Chamber of Shipping, in its publication
Bridge Procedures Guide, states:
It is the responsibility of the master, officers and other members of the crew to
pass on all relevant information, including defects and peculiarities, to the pilot
and to keep a proper lookout. The duty has been interpreted by the courts to
include the duty to report all material circumstances and facts which might
influence the pilot’s actions, even if the pilot is in a position where he ought to
be able to see things clearly for himself.
The duty in of the pilot is to direct the navigation of the ship, and to conduct it
so far as the course of the ship is concerned. He has no other power on board.
The common law relationship between master and pilot is such that, when the
latter is legally responsible for his own actions and the is restricted to
circumstances where there is clear evidence of the pilot’s incurring his own
liability, is restricted to circumstances where incurring his own liability, is
restricted to circumstances where there is clear evidence of the pilot’s inability
or incompetence.