If you ship goods internationally, you’ll likely transport some of your consignments using sea freight. And if so, your cargo is often loaded onto a container vessel many miles away… And that’s it. 

You never see it again!

Most of the time, your goods get to their destination. But it can be a worrying time, and you might want reassurance that your cargo is safe. Perhaps a change of destination has cropped up, or you need someone to check on your goods. 

Is that possible? Can you call the Captain of the ship directly? In this blog, we look at the loading and shipping process so you can understand the role of the captain.

What Does The Captain Do?

First, let’s clear up the language side of things. The Captain of a shipping vessel is also commonly known as the ship’s Master, and it’s that term that is used by other members of the crew on the vessel. The Master is the top dog, (obviously), and below he or she sits a hierarchy of others, all with very important jobs.

So back to the question. What does the Captain, or Master, do? 

The Master is ultimately responsible for the running and the contents of the ship. Goods, crew, equipment, machinery, passengers… Everything. They must keep their crew safe and cargo secure when in port and on the water, and they also have an ecological responsibility to the marine environments they travel across.

Easy, right? Phew, we’re not sure about that… It’s a big job! There’s a LOT to do, and a lot going on when you’re dealing with transporting often multiple exporter’s goods across the open ocean. And that’s before you get wind of a storm on the horizon.

The Master must be diligent and painstaking in the running of their ship to avoid lost or damaged goods, risk to their crew and passengers and possible pollution of the oceans. It’s big stuff. Let’s put it this way…

The Captain of an APL vessel that lost around 40 containers off the coast of Australia in 2020 was ordered to pay a $60,000 deposit – though the charges brought against him carried maximum penalties in excess of $300,000 – and he is still under bail conditions.

And why? What had happened? The containers aboard the vessel had not been lashed correctly, and some of the securing points were heavily corroded. The Master wasn’t the one doing the securing, it’s true, but it doesn’t matter. It was his ship, and it was his job to check. 

So, Can I Speak To The Captain About My Cargo?

Nope. The Master of a vessel is busy with… Well, everything.

Master’s duties include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring the safety of the vessel, cargo, crew and passengers
• Continuous monitoring and management of fire, hazard and damage limitation
• Overseeing all emergency operations
• Planning and executing the route
• Maintaining the ship and ordering repairs where necessary
• Overseeing the handling and securing of the cargo 
• Making sure all rules and regs are followed
• Assuming responsibility for budgets and expenses

And if that wasn’t enough, the Master must see that records of all of this are religiously kept through a hefty pile of computer-based admin. 

So the answer is no. You can’t speak with the Captain. But even if you could, they wouldn’t be much help at all. This is because the Captain doesn’t deal directly with the cargo. To the ship’s Master, your precious goods are just stacks of colourful containers. Giant Lego bricks. They are unable to move them, open them or otherwise interfere with them. 

In a world where it was possible to chat to the Master, the best he or she might be able to do is dip into the shipping manifest, a comprehensive overview of what’s on board, but it can be up to 20 pages long. They don’t have time for that! 

But How Can I Track My Cargo?

Whoa, whoa, whoa… Just because you can’t speak to the ship’s Master doesn’t mean you can’t get regular updates during the journey. Don’t fret.

To find out where your goods are at any point of their trip you can call your freight forwarder. If they’re doing their job properly, they’ll be able to find out exactly where the ship is. 

There is also the option of using one of the many online tools designed to track your shipment in real time. These clever apps can provide you with the exact location of your container using precise coordinates. Some even update you with status changes automatically, like the container leaving the port of origin or pending at customs, keeping you in the loop and eliminating any worries you have about the logistics and transportation process.

The Captain Can’t Help You 

Feels a bit Titanic, doesn’t it? It sounds dramatic… But it’s true. The Captain, or ship’s Master, has a full and varied role. He or she is responsible for every container on their vessel. But knowing anything about the goods inside the containers or doing anything to them is not within his or her remit, and there is simply no time for them to field calls from impatient or concerned importers and exporters.

Are you after a service that can provide regular updates as well as a port of call in an emergency? Use a freight forwarder. (And guess what. We’re really great!). 

Contact Millennium today to find out how we can enhance your shipping business. Our team of expert call handlers will help you with your query in no time.