Those involved in the maritime industry are aware of the significance of
the ship Master as leader in maritime operations. The ship Master is
responsible for the coordinated work of a diverse team of seafarers that
make possible the effective and efficient operation of production units of
high capital cost. This is also highly supported by maritime law, which
renders the Master the administrator on-board. Seafaring is characterized
by certain attributes that differentiate it from other onshore professions1).
Such are the absence of seafarers from home for a considerable time
period and the continuous exposure to sea originated risks. The nature of
the profession is also differentiated as the ship is a continuously moving
production unit, presenting high levels of hierarchical structures and
features common with what Erving Goffman terms “Total Institution”2).
This is specifically examined in this research.
The significance of the role of a ship Master on-board constitutes per se
a good reason for examining the leadership perspective of this profession,
but it is not the only reason that could motivate relevant research. Issues
such as the increased interest of the world maritime community in the
human element and the limited research on the issue within the shipping
industry may also be considered important. It is also interesting to
examine the traits that may characterize the ship as a Total Institution.