30 September 2014; Quebec.

So today something that relates to the function of the Master. The “Ships Articles”. This is an old phrase from the early days when seafarers would sign on, on a ship.  They would sign a contract and were then bound by the “articles” the rules under which they had to do their jobs. Some of them could not even read what was in those “articles” but as they were a law, it was accepted that they were what they were.

The phrase still exists and it still covers the same basic idea. A crewmember has to sign on, sign a contract, before he or she can work on a ship.  That procedure has not changed very much as far as the motions are concerned. What has changed is the enormous increase in requirements, training and preparation that takes place before “The Ships Articles” can be signed.

In the early beginning, you could directly sign on with the Captain. He was the owner’s representative, or he had his own ship and thus he ensured that his ship was manned with the necessary people. Out of necessity as crews were not always signed on in the most respectably ways, this was moved shore side and officially regulated.  You now reported to an office which ensured that you were signed on properly not just by signing the papers but that the “ships articles” were also properly applied. Especially where pay was concerned.

About 25 years ago the responsibility was returned to the captain. Protection against a Captain who had you drunk and press ganged into service were by then long and truly gone. To make sure that you arrived on board in compliance with all the requirement was now the full responsibility of the company’s office.  Thus when you first joined a company you had to go through a sort of pre-signing on program to ensure that you had all what is needed to be a real crewmember.

When you then finally arrive on board the captain will sign you on. On our cruise ships, there is the crew clerk who takes all your papers and by using a checklist, verifies that all is complete. A checklist is needed as nearly each function has different requirements.  What is required?

For all crew:

a. A Labor contract. (A written and signed agreement between the Owner and You)

b. A valid Physical. (So it can be expected that will be able to sail in good health)

For most crew

c. A valid Seaman’s book issued by the Flag State or the Home Country.

If one of them is missing, you cannot be signed on. If you are not signed on, you are not allowed to work. Thus you cannot come on board, or if on board already have to wait with working until the omission has been dealt with.

For certain functions such as entertainers, regular hotel staff and concessionaires a seaman’s book is not directly required. But some countries such as Russia require one if you want to go ashore as a crewmember. No seaman’s book and it must mean that you are a passenger and then you need a Visa. If have neither, then you are stuck on board.

Then going up the ranks, it becomes more and more complicated. Everybody (Deck and Engine) involved in watches have to have

d. A Certificate of Competency or C.O.C.

A C.O.C. which states that you can do the job that you are hired for. Mine states Master unlimited, which means I am basically allowed to captain any sort of merchant ship anywhere in the world (give or take local rules or extra training for a special type of ship).

Those 4 items, the captain always has to verify before he/she can sign the crewmember on. Contract, start date and function are entered into the Seaman’s book and the end dates are checked on the Labor Contract and on the Physical Certificate (Medical as we call it) and then you are legally on board.

Once you are on board, a whole plethora of indoctrination classes, trainings and other course taking starts but that is another story.