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bility taking such steps as he/she deems necessary and prudent and crew receive training regarding the Master’s Authority. to assist vessels in distress or for other emergency conditions. In This is important training, as the subject matter is really the addition, that master has the ability to request the com- keel of any successful SMS. Routine review of the Master’s pany’s help when necessary and that the overall safety of Authority, with each master employed at the company, as the towing vessel is the responsibility of the crew. The crew well more generic training to all crews, at designated inter- is required to comply with the SMS and applicable regula- vals, is also required by the RCP to be spelled out in your tions. The crew must also report unsafe conditions to the procedures. Consider requiring any instances the Master’s master and take action to prevent accidents. Authority was utilized by a master to be included as part

One might think that this requirement is so basic that of the master’s review of the management system (again, it does not need to be spelled out. That said; it needs to be required by all masters at designated intervals). spelled out so that all individuals employed either ashore Realize that there is much more to training than rely- or a? oat in the company understand – be it the CEO, ing what the U.S. Coast Guard spells out as required on a the Vice President of Operations, down to the ordinary rating’s credential. The credential is just a start, a baseline seaman – the idea that the policies and procedures of the minimum. There is training speci? c to a company’s opera- company are in place, but by no means undermine that the tion, and then there is the familiarization of the vessel and master is in charge, and may be required to use his or her its equipment on board. The RCP is a good place to look discretion. It is the ultimate responsibility of the master to as to what other company speci? c training should be in- ensure overall safe operation of the vessel, even if this is at cluded at new hire orientations, as well as designated inter- odds with the company, port engineer, vessel manager or val training for the ? eet. Validation of the training, as well terminal operator. as continual evaluation of the crew members employed on

Crews working on board must also understand this basic board, all go hand-in-hand to ensure all vessels are oper- concept. At the end of the day, the master is still the mas- ated safely, for the safety of crew, for the safety of the vessel, ter. Policies and procedures are often written ashore, some- and the safety of the environment. times without proper vetting. All crew members must understand that they are responsible for adhering to these

Captain Katharine Sweeney is CEO policies, but also responsible for their own safety, as well of Compliance Maritime, provider as the safety of the vessel, regardless of the procedures – as of independent internal auditing this goes hand in hand. Even properly vetted procedures of security, safety, quality and might not cover all aspects of an operation, or nuances. environmental management systems

And that is where the Master’s Authority, as well as the for vessel operators. Captain Sweeney is an experienced crew empowerment, comes into play.

Master Mariner, safety expert and federally licensed pilot

While the ISM code is generic in nature, and just indi- with over 25 years in the Maritime Industry. Contact her cates that the SMS must spell out the Master’s Authority, at [email protected] the RCP de? nes it in more detail, and requires that masters www.marinelink.com MN 19

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