Role of the ships Master
Peril at Sea and Salvage (International Chamber of Shipping) A Guide for Masters (Latest Edition). Is helpful for actions taken to assist a ship in peril towards saving lives and property. Taken as well into account the need to prevent damage to the environment and efforts made to prevent or mitigate such damage.
This guide is to provide information to assist masters in making decisions when confronted with a perilous situation. The guide has been prepared principally with oil tankers and gas carriers in mind, but much of the advice will be appropriate to other types of ships. For the purpose of this guide, peril is considered to exist when there is a threat to the ship, cargo. or personnel, or when there is a risk of causing substantial pollution. In such a situation, the master should immediately take all appropriate action for the safety of life and to prevent or minimise damage to the ship, her cargo and the environment.
When a ship suffers a casualty, or is otherwise in a position of peril, the master must decide as a matter of urgency whether assistance, including salvage assistance, is needed or if the situation can be handled using the ship's own resources.
The master of a ship in distress should be authorised to take whatever measures he considers necessary to protect life, his ship and the environment, without reference to a third party. Companies do cover this authorisation in Companies – Vessels Safety Management System “Masters Overriding Authority” (I.S.M. code 2.9.1 and preamble – paragraph 2.)
The authority of the master is not altered by engaging salvors. He remains in command of the ship despite the presence of a salvage master and he should therefore ensure that he is fully aware of the action taken in the rendering of salvage services. Even though services have been accepted and assistance is being rendered, the salvor must cease his services in response to a reasonable request to do so by the master.
The master should cooperate fully with the salvors, who are experts in salvage operations, and in so doing exercise due care to prevent or minimise damage to the environment. He should take account of any advice given by the salvage master or other person in charge of rendering or advising on salvage services. The salvors may not be experts in the safety and handling of cargo or familiar with the ship. If in doubt about the advisability of any action suggested by the salvors, the master should not hesitate to challenge the advice given, bearing in mind his overriding responsibility for the safety of those onboard, the ship and its cargo.
