Master Horizon Geosciences

The Master is responsible and accountable in various respects to owners, charterers, national and international organisations and the Company for the safe and efficient operation of the vessel. The Master has the authority and responsibility to implement the policies of the Company on board the ship and he is responsible for the proper management of his ship with respect to safety and quality requirements as specified in written Company procedures.

The Master s specific responsibilities under the ISM Code have been detailed in Section 5 above, including an unequivocal statement regarding Overriding Authority (5.1). With this in mind, some further responsibilities and amplification of those already detailed are as follows:

• The Master is responsible to the Company for the safe, secure and efficient operation of the ship in port and at He shall ensure compliance with all relevant Codes, Conventions, Regulations, Rules and Laws that are applicable to the ship and his first consideration shall always be the safety and security of his ship, personnel and cargo. He shall always endeavour to plan, organise, implement and expedite all ship s business in the most economic and practical manner bearing in mind the Quality and Safety Management system of the Company, Charterer s requirements, national and international regulations and Class rules;
• The Master shall ensure that all procedures regarding on board emergencies, including threats to the environment, are properly implemented and where and whenever necessary amended and improved in accordance with the Safety Management Policy of the Company. He shall ensure that all safety, pollution prevention, emergency preparedness, security and health-hazard drills, exercises and training are properly conducted with comprehensive involvement of all ship staff according to the policies of the Company and in accordance with all other applicable instructions and international/national regulations;
• The Master has the authority and discretion to take whatever action he considers to be necessary in accordance with Company policy, having due regard to the interests of the crew, ship, marine environment and his principals;
• Company policy shall not in any way relieve the Master of his Overriding Responsibilities The Master may depart from Company policy when justified and where particular circumstances so dictate;
• The Master is responsible for the safe navigation and handling of the shi He shall ensure that passage planning, chart and publication maintenance, navigation-aid maintenance and all other applicable factors are executed in accordance with the best professional practices and in compliance with all relevant rules and regulations
• The Master shall always be in charge during all increased-risk operations carried out by the ship. In particular, mooring, berthing and unberthing, navigation in restricted waterways and similar situations plus any specialist operations in which the ship might engage
• The Master shall ensure that all ship s records and documentation are properly maintained, in particular the official logbooks shall be accurate and up-to-date at all times, particularly with respect to navigational information (courses, speeds, alterations, positions), weather conditions, emergencies and all unusual occurrences;
• The Master shall ensure that all current Flag Administration instructions and bulletins are promulgated on boar He shall publish and promulgate his own Standing Orders and he shall maintain a daily night order book when at sea. His Standing Orders shall be explicit regarding situations when he must be called to the bridge;
• The Master shall always be in charge of all communications made from the ship, in the name of the ship, whether by means of voice radio transmission, telex, morse-code, satellite communication, internet, signal light, flags or pyrotechnics;
• The Master shall ensure through the Chief Engineer and shipboard management team, the cost effective maintenance and operation of all vessel machinery and equipment, while maintaining minimum down-time
• The Master shall regularly communicate and work with shore-based staff of the Company to ensure optimum operational and navigational readiness and effectiveness of the vessel. He shall keep them updated regarding ship and voyage status. He shall also endeavour to maintain an ongoing, effective and productive working relationship with shore personnel
• The Master shall ensure that voyage plans and the navigation of the vessel are designed and conducted to safely achieve an expeditious and efficient voyage at minimum cost to the Company;
• The Master shall ensure that any cargo handling, stowage and transportation is controlled in a safe, secure and environmentally acceptable manner, with minimum delays or loss
• The Master shall ensure that all calculations carried out regarding draft, trim, stability and longitudinal stress are properly conducted and that ship s officers concerned with such calculations are competent in this respect;
• The Master is responsible for the identification of all on board training He shall ensure that all Officers and crew are briefed and trained to satisfy job requirements, particularly those responsible for safety, security and quality matters