Job Description of Captain

From the time the Captain assumes command until the time he is relieved of command he is responsible for the safe, efficient operation and maintenance of the vessel, the safety and conduct of the crew and passengers, and prompt, "First Class" service to the company leasing the boat.

He is encouraged and expected to develop a sense of "team spirit" in his crew, and to be cooperative and pleasant with all the employees and personnel of the chartered.

He gives guidance and direction to crew members and ensures that they comply with all IMS regulations and perform their duties efficiently and safely.

The Captain is authorized to discipline, and if necessary, discharge crew members for poor work performance and/or infractions of IMS regulations and/or safety procedures. In exercising this authority, the Captain is expected to act reasonably, justly and without prejudice.

The Captain reports to the office on all matters pertaining to the operation and maintenance of the vessel and the performance and well being of the crew. He keeps the office informed at all time of incidents, accidents, problems, etc. pertaining to the vessel, the crew, the passengers, and/or the personnel of the vessel's chartered.

Captains and crew members are subject to any corrective action deemed necessary by IMS to protect the vessel and/or interest of IMS.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Seamanship
1. Rules of the road must be observed at all times.
2. Appropriate navigation procedures must be practiced at all times.
3. Boat Handling: A IMS Captain should be able to dock and hold his boat at a rig in a professional manner using a minimum of power. Excessive use of power and rapid changing of gears is not acceptable!
4. Boat Safety: A IMS Captain should always be concerned for the safety of his boat, his passengers, and his crew. The IMS Vessel Operations Guidelines provide an in-depth description of procedures which IMS Captains must follow at all times to ensure this safety. In addition, IMS Captains should be aware of:
1. any unsafe condition or practice that may endanger his vessel. A IMS Captain should be aware of anything that may be harmful to him, his passengers, and his crew. He is required to hold at least one safety meeting per hitch to keep accidents to a minimum.
2. any perilous circumstances. A IMS Captain should be on the bridge when his vessel is in peril. This duty includes when the vessel is loading or unloading at a rig or barge or at any time the vessel is traversing channels, traveling in inlets, traveling in fog, or traveling in any waters where traffic, grounding, or debris may be a problem. A IMS Captain must always keep in mind that his vessel's wake can cause destruction. A IMS Captain is responsible for his vessel's wake.
5. All federal environmental rules that may apply to the vessel must be taken into consideration. Also be aware of state and local environmental rules that may apply to the vessel.
2. Leadership

The Title of Captain is given by IMS and the U.S. Coast Guard. The respect of a Captain is earned by the Captain himself. There is no set rule for good leadership IMS Captains practice good leadership in different ways. No matter what style of leadership the Captain practices, a IMS Captain is obligated to achieve the following goals:

1. A clean, well maintained vessel.
2. A well organized, efficient crew with everyone doing his job without being reminded.
3. A courteous, happy, and content crew that enjoys the job it is doing.
4. A safe crew.

To carry out these goals, the Captain must train his crew through effective communication. He must motivate his crew members to the point where they want to do their jobs. The secret to a good crew is to communicate and motivate. The IMS evaluation forms work as a guide. The Captain must make sure that everyone knows the rules and regulations of IMS, the chartering company or rig, and the dock service.

3. Technical Knowledge
   While IMS does not expect its Captains to be mechanical or electrical engineers, they are expected to learn as much as possible about the vessels they operate. A IMS Captain should be able to:
1. Train a new engineer to clean, maintain, and do minor repair jobs to the vessel.
2. Spot and report problems to the office.
3. Trouble shoot and help a never-ending job. A IMS Captain should be willing to learn the office diagnose symptoms of mechanical problems. Learning about the vessel is something new every day.
4. Business Representative
1. A IMS Captain represents IMS on the job. When he deals with a chatter's company man, a dispatcher, a rig, or dock personnel, a IMS Captain is IMS to them. His goal is to make his boat, crew, and IMS look good at all times. In a time of conflict he should soothe rather than agitate.
2. A IMS Captain is in charge of vessel logs, expense reports, non-injury reports, passenger manifests, vessel operating reports, accident reports, and evaluation forms. He should always handle his paper work in a business-like manner.
3. A IMS vessel is a big investment for IMS and the job a vessel is performing creates a large cash flow for IMS. A IMS boat and crew are big business - IMS Captains must treat them as such.
5. Specific Duties And Responsibilities
1. Navigate and operate the vessel and assure that only qualified personnel operate the equipment.
2. Oversee and direct the safe boarding of all deck cargo and passengers.
3. Operate the vessel's electronic equipment and assure that only qualified personnel operate the equipment.
4. When transferring or disposing of oily matter, follow the appropriate procedures:
   Procedures For Petroleum Filter Disposal, Procedures For Oily Water Disposal, or Procedures For Oil (And Fuel) Transfers. Captains and vessel owner/operators are now subject to imprisonment and stiff penalties/fines for pollution. Violations of these procedures will result in severe discipline by IMS up to and including possible dismissal. Notify the IMS office of any problems or questions.
5. Prepare and maintain accurate, complete, up-to-the-minute logs/reports, which include:
1. Daily Vessel Log
2. Radio Log
3. Vessel Operating Report, U.S. Corps of Engineers
4. Vessel Petroleum Filter Disposal Log
5. Garbage Record
6. Retain in vessel files a sufficient supply of the following forms and know how to fill in the forms, when to use them, and to who they are to be sent.
1. Employee Performance Appraisal Forms
2. Non-Injury Report Forms
3. Property Damages Report Forms
4. First Report Of Alleged Accident, Injury or Illness Forms
5. Passenger Manifest Forms
7. Post in appropriate places of the vessel all current papers, licenses, and certificates applying to the vessel and crew. This includes vessel certificates, radio license, radio safety procedures, stability letter, etc. Notify the office at least 30 days before the expiration of any certificate.
8. Inspect engine room and other parts of vessel daily to see that it is properly maintained, clean, orderly, and that loose gear is properly stowed or lashed down. Make sure the engine room and items in the engine room are checked every thirty (30) minutes.
9. Notify the dispatcher at all times when the vessel is leaving or coming into port or changing berths.
10. Meet and know key responsible officials and workers for who the vessel works, e.g. platform foremen, superintendents, dispatchers, dock managers, etc. and develop a good cooperative working relationship with them.
11. Report to the U.S. Coast Guard and home office as soon as possible for any of the following:
1. Loss of life.
2. Injury causing any person to remain incapacitated for a period in excess of 72 hours.
3. Major damage affecting the seaworthiness of the vessel. Notify home office first for instructions when property damage may exceed $1,500.00.
4. All oil spillage and/or pollution.
12. Report immediately to the dispatcher and the home office:
1. All vessel accidents or incidents, regardless of the seriousness. Notify home office first for instructions when property damage exceeds $1,500.00.
2. Injuries and illness of passengers.
3. Major damage affecting the seaworthiness of the vessel.
4. All oil spillage and/or pollution.
13. Report immediately to the home office:
1. Whenever a crew member quits.
2. The absence of a crew member.
3. The conduct of a crew member which in your opinion warrants a dismissal.
4. The poor work performance of a crew member who in your opinion necessitates an immediate replacement.
5. All injuries and illnesses of the crew.
14. Have all crew members and passengers comply with the safety regulations and procedures adopted by IMS and those of the chartered when so required.
15. Where applicable, comply with the chatterer's regulations relating to crew, vessel and property. Hold safety meetings at least once a hitch to ensure all crew members are familiar with safety rules and regulations.
16. The Captain is responsible for ensuring the First Aid Kit is kept stocked at all time and that the crew is familiar with the first aid procedures.
17. The Captain is responsible for the safe, efficient operation of IMS vehicles used for crew changes, and for compliance with rules and procedures governing the use of the vehicles - this includes excessive speeding while traveling to and from the vessel.
18. Prepare and submit to the office a "Want List" of supplies needed for the vessel. This is done generally at the end of a hitch.
19. Conduct fire and emergency boat drills to the extent that all crew members and passengers are sufficiently trained to act promptly and effectively in case of an emergency. It is mandatory that fire, man overboard, and abandon ship drills, be conducted within 24 hours after the Captain assumes command of the vessel. Enter all fire and emergency boat drills in IMS logs.
20. Prepare and forward to the office, all logs, and reports required by the home office. This is generally done at the end of a scheduled hitch.
21. When required, prepare the vessel for inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard. Do not paint any aluminum areas of the boat that are not already painted. Do not change any colors of paint on boat or make any additions to colored areas without approval from the home office. Contact the home office if there are any questions.
22. When required, prepare the vessel for dry docking.
23. Assist in making repairs to the vessels and other tasks as directed by the home office.
24. Assist other crew members in the performance of their jobs.
25. At crew change:
1. Brief relieving Captain on the condition of the vessel, special instructions, etc.
2. Have all crew members sign the Non-Injury Report and forward or bring the report to the home office.
3. Advise the home office of any problems affecting the crew or vessel.
4. Turn over to relieving crew a sparkling clean, well maintained vessel ready to get underway.
5. Notify the relieving captain of supplies and spare parts received and/or requested.
6. When unloading van for crew change, make sure all supplies, packages, luggage etc. are unloaded. If supplies are for another boat or crew, make every effort to get them delivered correctly. Be sure all luggage, packages, supplies, etc. loaded into van or onto boat are intended to be transported by the van or the boat respectively. Any cost incurred in correcting a crew's mistakes in this area, will be charged to that crew.
26. Perform other duties/tasks that may be assigned by the home office.
27. Follow IMS Vessel Operations Guidelines.
28. Attend IMS semi-annual Captains lunches with management to discuss all issues affecting IMS vessels, passengers, charters, crews, etc.
29. Follow, enforce, and perform all programs, policies, procedures, guidelines, etc., as they appear in the IMS Vessel Handbook And Employee Manual, or as otherwise instructed by a member of IMS management.

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