When are you 'Captain' not skipper

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Nautical

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When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Bit of a debate here this pm. One antagonist suggests that qualified Yachtmaster with commercial endorsement is entitled to call himself captain (assuming he's driving something reasonably substantial) tother says only those that have gone up through the ranks either merchant or RN have the right to be called captain. Unlike doctors there doesn't seem to be any formal guidelines as who is and who isn't. MCA don't seem to have anything on their site.

Thoughts, knowledge, experience...???? what is it
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Captain, officer in charge of ship.

YM's commercial or otherwise, are not officers, therefore not captains. They are skippers as far as I'm concerned.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

But isn't a Yachtmaster commercial with relevant tickets taking a >24m yacht out on a charter an 'Officer in command of a ship' considering the yacht is commercially registered.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Depends if the vessel is a ship or not! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Most yachts of a bit over 24m aren't ships. How big are you talking?
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Well something like a Bennetti or Feadship type thingy.

Not sure paying guests parting with $100,000 for a weeks charter would be that enamoured to know the chap driving this $40m yacht isn't really a captain, I mean they all seemed to be called Captain SoF and Italian Riviera way
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Well looks as if you could actually call your self Captain, according to the MCA for yachts over 24m you can do the MCA 'Master of Yachts 200T' as an add on to Yachtmaster Ocean with commercial endorsement, so spect if you are a Master in command you are technically a Captain.

eye, eye..... Captain Brendan /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

I always thought if your in charge you are captain . Forget the stuffy bits of paper ! So i take my mates out on my boat with no qualifications and she sinks killing my mates .
I stand in front of the judge for manslaughter , he doesnt say i was skipper does he ? Im sure he would say i was Captain in charge of the vessel and therefore responsable for all actions . Well thats my 2p worth .
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

and on another tack, I am sure Captains probably consider themselves more highly qualified than just a skipper but who has the greater boat, yacht, ship handling skills. Was privileged enough to fiddle with the controls on a ro ro once and was amazed how easy it was to put it where you wanted and it was a reasonable blow beam on but she just went where you put it, on the other hand scale it down onto say a 50' flybridge in the same blow manoeuvring in the same scaled down space would have been a lot more sweaty palms and gritting of teeth. Ok so a Captain has a lot more people he is responsible for but is the skill level any greater or actually less as far as handling is concerned?.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

It's been a good many years since I've seen them, but as I recall the blokes who who drive the hydrofoil shuttle between Southampton and The IOW used to wear 4 bars on their uniform denoting rank of captain.

but I don't know what point I'm trying to make!

So I'll shut up and go to bed.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Practice in the US is that any operator qualified by a US Coast Guard license can call himself Captain. Bear in mind that most US waters are under the jusidiction of the individual states. And most of those states do not require any sort of license so long as you are not carrying passengers for a fare. Thus the vast majority of US recreational boaters have no license of any kind. I take it the situation in the UK is somewhat different?

Kelly Cook
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

No licences of any sort are required for leisure boating. Many take voluntary tests of practical and theory under the RYA scheme, probably quite a high percentage here on the forums.

If you wish to take passengers commercially, then you do need a licence, though this can take many forms: including commercial endorsements on RYA qualifications, Boatman licences from local harbours or ports, Local authority licences on inland waterways, Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Licences, etc etc.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

I have always considered the title of Captain to be a rank. given to personell of the Royal Navy, or the Mercantile Marine. It is not easily come by, and is deserved of respect.

I think that some confusion results about the titles usage, when in foriegn climes, and Harbour Masters, Customs Officials and the like, use it when addressing skippers of visiting vessels as a small courtesy.

Just my two pennarth worth.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

grrr, I was told "no siree you cannot rent this boat sir, no siree" when I tried to rent a little Bayliner on Lake Mead because despite chucking my ym certificate and loads of other boaty certificates at them I was not 21....I could have rented it if I had a US driving license though.

So you can't be a Captain on Lake Mead unless you're really old or have a driving license....next question please

A picture of the official el capitano

Copy_of_DSC02790.sized.jpg
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Sorry about that No1. I've rented boats on various US waters. And found absolutely no common rules for qualification. Each outfit does as it pleases.

Kelly
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

>I have always considered the title of Captain to be a rank. given to personell of the Royal Navy, or the Mercantile Marine. It is not easily come by, and is deserved of respect.

That was my understanding. Also, that in the RN, someone with the rank of "Commander" could be in charge of a ship (e.g. a frigate).

dv.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

[ QUOTE ]
I have always considered the title of Captain to be a rank. given to personell of the Royal Navy, or the Mercantile Marine. It is not easily come by, and is deserved of respect.


[/ QUOTE ] Agreed but please don't forget the largest service (if not the senior) also has the rank of Captain and they probably have more boats that the senior service if a trip round the moth balled fleet in Portsmouf harbour was anything to go by last Saturday /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Tend to agree. I think it springs, as has been suggested, from transatlantic confusion. In US, those with the basic (~100 hours of sea time and a multiple choice test) USCG qualification often use the title 'Captain' in ordinary life ashore even if they don't own a boat. Over here that would be considered rather silly. So 'skipper' for everyday here (when on board). UK Maritime legislation uses 'Master' even for those in command of small craft.

Naval practice I believe is to call the commanding officer 'Captain' on board whatever the rank, but ashore refers only to 4-stripers.
 
Re: When are you \'Captain\' not skipper

Well I would agree anyone calling themselves Captain without considerable experience and qualifications and in charge of at least something substantial would be just plain silly, however I don't see why a master of a big yacht commercially registered can not be deemed or called the captain, he has the same responsibilities, same duty of care and same liability as any captain of a small passenger ship, bound by the same rules and regulations and is as least as skilled. Personally I think it is all a bit elitism it should be down to ability, responsibility and commensurate with the legal obligations undertaken.
 
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