The Master's Legal Duty and the Underlying Principle
A vessel is seaworthy when she is fit in all respects for the intended voyage — hull, equipment, stability, crew, and cargo. This is not merely a classification society or flag state obligation; it is the Master's personal, non-delegable duty at the time of departure. Sending a vessel to sea in an unseaworthy condition exposes the Master to criminal liability under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. The standard demanded in the MCA oral is that of the Master who owns this decision, not one who relies on others to have checked.
Watertight Integrity — What the Master Must Verify
Before departure the Master must be satisfied that all openings capable of flooding the vessel are secured or monitored:
- Weathertight and watertight closures: shell doors, sea-chests, storm covers, freeboard deck hatches, skylights, and companionways secured or able to be secured rapidly.
- Ventilators and air pipes: appropriate closures ready; mushroom heads free to operate; non-return flaps serviceable.
- Anchor gear: hawse pipe plugs fitted; chain locker access secured.
- Through-hull fittings: all sea cocks operational and crew aware of their location — a basic damage control requirement that begins before departure.
- Bilge systems: bilge alarms and pumps tested; bilge levels logged as baseline. An unexpected rise in a bilge during the approach to heavy weather is an early indicator of a developing problem.
- Stability: the Master must hold a current approved stability information booklet and be satisfied that the departure condition is within approved limits, including free surface effects from tanks and the stowage of any variable loads.
Heavy Weather Precautions — Practical Command Decisions
A Master prepares for heavy weather before it arrives, not during it:
- Securing for sea: all movable weights — tenders, PWC, deck gear, anchors — properly lashed; stowage plans verified with crew. Tender davits and anchor lashings are a common examiner focus.
- Running rigging and sails: all sails properly furled or stowed; boom preventer rigged or boom secured; sheets led and ready for rapid sail reduction.
- Crew briefing: watch arrangements reviewed; lifelines and jackstays rigged before onset; crew instructed on movement on deck.
- Weather and routing: receipt of an updated weather picture is part of the Master's duty under SOLAS V. Routing decisions — including heaving to, seeking shelter, or delaying departure — are command decisions. The Master is not obliged to sail.
- Navigation equipment: GPS, radar, chart plotter, AIS, compass — all confirmed operational; EPIRB and SART/AIS-SART checked registered and armed; NAVTEX/GMDSS watch confirmed.
The examiner will probe whether the candidate treats this as a personal walk-through decision, not a crew checklist tick-box. The command question is always: "Am I satisfied that this vessel is fit for this voyage in these forecast conditions?"