High wages and how they work that tend to be different from other jobs make many people wonder what the duties and responsibilities of a ship captain really are.

Before discussing the duties and responsibilities of a skipper, you need to understand exactly what is meant by a skipper himself. Referring to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), the captain is a marine officer who holds the highest command on a commercial ship.

This definition is in line with what was conveyed by one of the captains of the PT Humpuss Maritim Internasional (HUMI) LNG ship, Captain Wales Hendra Putra, in a video podcast on the Lighthouse Seafarer Network YouTube channel.

“The skipper is more about leadership, how to embrace all crew members in order to create a conducive atmosphere to ensure the shipping process can run well and smoothly without any obstacles,” said Captain Wales.

Meanwhile, when referring to the Commercial Code or KUHD in article 342, it is briefly explained that a ship and the people who participate in it are the responsibility of a captain.

“The skipper is obliged to act with intelligence, thoroughness and with sufficient wisdom to carry out his duties properly. He is responsible for the harm caused by him to others because of his intentional or grave mistake,” reads Article 342 of the Indonesian Criminal Code.

This was also confirmed by Captain Wales in the video podcast. “‘So overall responsibility for the crew on the ship,”‘ he added.

If detailed, the duties of a ship captain are as follows:

• Perfectly equipping the ship
• Manning the ship properly according to procedures/rules
• Make the ship seaworthy
• Responsible for shipping safety
• Responsible for the safety of the sailors on board the ship
• Comply with the orders of the ship’s entrepreneur as long as it does not deviate from the applicable laws and regulations

Meanwhile, the responsibilities of a captain on a ship based on the applicable legislation are as follows:

• As the General Authority Holder on board. (Articles 384, 385 of the Commercial Code and Article 55 of Law No. 21 of 1992).
• As Ship Leader. (Article 341 of the KUHD, Article 55 of Law No. 21 of 1992 and Article 1/1 (c) STCW 1978).
• As Law Enforcement. (Articles 387, 388, 390, 394 (a) KUHD, and Article 55 No. 21 of 1992).
• As a Civil Registration Officer. (Regulation of Civil Registration for Births and Deaths, and Article 55 of Law No. 21. Th. 1992).
• As a Notary. (Articles 947 and 952 of the Civil Code, and Article 55 of Law No. 21, 1992).