Does a Captain Drown with his SINKING SHIP.

Assalamualaikum, and once again welcome back to life in ships and Oceans.

In the history of sailing, many ships have met their demise. And that still happens today. There are many dangers at sea and as the popular saying goes, "The sea is your friend as long as your ship is in one piece." If you're without a ship, it doesn't matter how durable your lifeboat is, you're not safe. A lifeboat may save you from grave danger, but it can't protect you for long. A lifeboat cannot protect you forever. Most of the time, even lifeboats cannot help people escape from the sea's dangers. And quite often, the sinking ship takes the entire crew down with it. There have been many instances, but if I were to mention famous ones: there's the Titanic, her sister ship Brittanic, S.S. Carpathia, responsible for rescuing the Titanic survivors. Costa Concordia. There are among the most popular ones. The Titanic tragedy is particularly popular because many lives were lost. Brittanic: because she was Titanic's sister ship. S.S. Carpathia's incident became popular because she was responsible for saving Titanic survivors. Costa Concordia's incident is well-known because the captain made bad decisions. Another reason why Titanic is famous is because

Hollywood has produced at least 2 films about her. In the latest film, they used excellent CGI and their execution was commendable. The film has heart-wrenching visuals. However, people ask me a lot about one particular scene. It's when Cap'n Edward J. Smith heads over to the bridge, the ship sinks, and all the windows get smashed.

Water floods in and the ship takes the captain down to the depths of the Atlantic with her. People watch a lot of animated movies, too. And I'm often asked whether the captain has a diamond-like object that he ingests, taking his own life before drowning with his ship. Yet another question people ask me is whether the captain of any ship chooses to go down with the sinking ship. Is there any regulation that obligates it for a ship's captain to go down with his ship. The thing is, this ship isn't just for trades and it isn't your main source of earning. It's your home, too. You live here, eat here, sleep here. There are good days and bad days. Your crew becomes your family. Your ship becomes your home. And when your home is sinking... of course, you're going to be upset. Another interesting fact I'd like to tell you is that when you go off-board after sailing for a while, it feels like you're missing something. You miss the ship! You leave a piece of your life back on the ship. A part of your life remains on the ship. And when this home is sinking, it's obvious that a part of your life is also sinking with the ship But what is the captain's responsibility when such an unfortunate event occurs? What is he supposed to do? Instead of going into full detail I'll tell you the important bits. First, the captain sends out an S.O.S. call, or a distress call. This is so that any individuals onshore, or ships nearby know that a ship is in distress and needs immediate help. It is mandatory for a captain to send out a distress call. Any way he can send it. If the ship is sailing close to shallow waters, the captain will have to lead the ship there. If possible, the ship must be saved at any cost. This way, they can remove salvageable items on the ship. Another reason is for the safe deployment of the ship's lifeboat/s, to save as many passengers as possible. The captain also has to slow the ship down, even stop it, if that's possible, depending on the circumstances. The captain should ensure that all the passengers are safe and seated in lifeboats.

If there's anyone left behind the captain should know why. If the abandoned person needs to be rescued, the captain should work to rescue them and have them brought over to one of the ship's lifeboats. The captain has to complete the headcount. Everybody is accounted for. There are plenty of other responsibilities but I'll spare you the details. In fact, the first and last responsibilities, i.e., sending a distress signal, and completing the headcount, these two are the most important. As for the other duties, the captain must fulfil them if the circumstances allow it. If the headcount is complete and everyone is on lifeboats. The captain must call the engine room. That's because the last person onboard is the chief engineer. The captain has to order the chief engineer to be seated in a lifeboat too. Then there's also a duty officer accompanying the captain at the bridge, as well as an AB, or able seaman. The captain has to order both crewmembers to get in lifeboats. After giving out these orders, the captain must also follow them to their lifeboat. And once he gives the abandon ship order, which they can also give out at the bridge, and of course, while in the lifeboat. It's entirely up to him. Once he gives these orders, the lifeboats are deployed - the ship finally abandoned. So, does the captain have to go down with his ship? No. Not at all. He doesn't have to do that. It's the captain's right to save his own life as much as any other crewmember's. But, his first responsibility is to first ensure that everyone is safe and seated in lifeboats. He'll be the last person to get off. If the captain fails to do this, i.e., ensuring everyone's safety, he'll have to endure the same punishment as the Costa Concordia captain.

It's his prime responsibilityto save others before saving himself. As far as what happened on the Titanic, the captain headed to the bridge because he had nowhere else to go. There weren't any lifeboats left. And as a professional captain, he made sure everyone else was safe, first. Then he considered his own fate. There weren't any lifeboats left. He knew he was going to drown, anyway. That's why he went to the bridge. 

Until my next Article, take good care of yourselves.

Always remember me in your prayers.

This is me, Sameer Mukhtar.

You're watching life in ships and Oceans..

And until my next Article,

ALLAH Hafiz!