The Role of the Captain in the Maritime Hierarchy

The paper is devoted to the study of the role and status of the captain in the maritime hierarchy. In the maritime sphere, the captain is the highest-ranking responsible officer of the ship, whose professional activities relate to the safe management of the ship, the leadership of the crew, and decision-making. The study aims to determine the main functions, powers,, and responsibilities of the captain in the maritime hierarchical system and to discuss his role in the context of professional communication and crew relations. The study is based on the analysis of regulatory and professional documents in the maritime sphere, as well as relevant material from maritime discourse. Special attention is paid to the captain's leadership function, the authority to issue orders, the coordination of crew activities, and decision-making in critical situations. The study shows that the role of the captain is not limited to administrative and professional functions and to a large extent determines the formation of hierarchical relations, discipline, and effective professional communication on board the ship.