Apparently he wasn't even on the bridge, so he had no say in the control of the boat at the time. If the Captain isn't around when something goes wrong they always tend to get the blame.
The captain ( technically the ship's master ) always has overall responsibility for the safety and conduct of the vessel.
The Officer of the watch will-should have a full Master's foreign going ticket...The Captain cannot be there 24hrs a day , Some passenger vessels have a night skipper as well .
It's all immaterial, the captain at the time of the ship's sinking was not at the helm. Not only that but he left the ship with people still on it. He is guilty. It might be archaic, but it's law.
Sorry, I didn't realise there were so many experienced seafarers and experts in maritime law on this forum.
Shocking!!!! captain tells everyone to stay inside incase they get swept away ,then fucks off before it sinks typical
Sending everyone to their cabins to collect life-jackets and warm clothing is standard procedure - and quite correct. Not telling them to leave their cabins and go to their lifeboat stations was where they went wrong...
