Master Mariner

The master holds the highest deck Certificate of Competency, the STCW Regulation II/2 unlimited master endorsement for ships of 3,000 GT or more. The certificate sits above officer of the watch (II/1) and chief mate, and rests on the management-level functions in STCW Code Table A-II/2: navigation, cargo handling, ship operation, and care for persons on board. The master carries overriding authority for safety and pollution prevention under SOLAS and the ISM Code, signs the official log, and is the owner’s legal representative on board. The title master mariner persists ashore as a professional grade after the holder leaves sea service.