Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Master (Captain) Jobs
37 open vacancies · updated 17 Oct 2026
5 Nov 2026 · 4 mos · Any citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$8,000 – $9,500 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration4 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
About the role
The Master is the senior deck officer and has overall command of the vessel. The Master is responsible for the safety of the ship, crew, cargo, and environment, and for compliance with the ISM Code and ISPS Code. On board, the Master leads all departments. The Chief Officer manages deck ratings and reports to the Master; the Chief Engineer heads the engine department. The Master approves voyage plans, oversees cargo operations, and represents the ship to port authorities, agents, and charterers. Masters work on seagoing merchant ships, including container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, and passenger vessels. They report to the shipowner or manager ashore. A CoC under STCW II/2 is required for ships of 500 GT or more.
Duties on board
- Command the vessel and take overall responsibility for the ship, crew, cargo, and pollution prevention.
- Approve voyage plans and monitor safe navigation, including ECDIS and ARPA use by watch officers.
- Ensure compliance with the ISM Code, ISPS Code, and flag State and port State rules.
- Oversee cargo planning, loading, stowage, securing, and discharge; sign the cargo documents.
- Lead emergency drills and act as the on-scene commander for fire, abandon ship, and man overboard.
- Check that all certificates, surveys, and ship's documents are valid and ready for inspection.
- Manage deck department officers and ratings; join in crew training and performance reviews.
- Communicate with owners, charterers, agents, port authorities, and PSC inspectors.
- Keep the official logbook and report accidents, non-conformities, and near misses as required.
- Decide on safe route changes, port entry, or cargo operations in bad weather or equipment failure.
Requirements
| Document | Convention | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Competency (CoC) as Master | STCW II/2 | Every master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more must hold a certificate of competency. |
| GMDSS Radio Operator Certificate | STCW IV/2 | Every person in charge of or performing radio duties on a ship required to participate in the GMDSS must hold an appropriate GMDSS certificate. |
| STCW Basic Training (BST) | STCW VI/1 | Seafarers must receive safety familiarization and basic training or instruction in line with section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code. |
Sea service
For certification as master on ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or more, you need not less than 36 months of approved seagoing service as officer in charge of a navigational watch, or not less than 24 months if not less than 12 months were served as chief mate. The same service standard applies for ships between 500 and 3,000 gross tonnage.
Medical fitness
A valid medical certificate is needed before joining. It must state hearing, sight, and colour vision (where relevant) are satisfactory. It is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year if under age 18; colour vision is valid for a maximum of six years. If it expires during a voyage, it remains valid only until the next port where a new one can be obtained, for no more than three months.
Documents
- Passport
- Seaman's book (CDC)
- CoC as Master (STCW II/2)
- GMDSS Radio Operator Certificate
- STCW Basic Training certificate
- Medical certificate under MLC 2006
- Visas or work permits when the voyage requires them
What employers on Krew Guru ask for
Vessel typesBulk Carrier 98%, Container Ship 2%
Contract length (median)4 months
Open to any nationality76%
Salary, USD per month5,500–8,750p25–p75 by 51 vacancies on Krew Guru with a salary, last 180 days
Based on 51 vacancies on Krew Guru over the last 365 days.
Career path
Comes from: Chief Officer (Chief Mate)
Companies hiring Master (Captain) now
- QA Ocean Crewing Two Ltd30 vacancies
- QA Maritime Shipping One Ltd7 vacancies
Related ranks
- Chief Officer (Chief Mate)2 vacancies
- Second Officer2 vacancies
Master (Captain): questions and answers
What certificate do I need to become a Master?
You need a Certificate of Competency (CoC) as master under STCW II/2. This applies to seagoing ships of 500 gross tonnage or more. You must first meet the requirements for officer in charge of a navigational watch under STCW II/1, and complete approved education and training to the standard in section A-II/2 of the STCW Code.
How much sea service is required before I can get a master's CoC?
For ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or more, you need not less than 36 months of approved seagoing service as officer in charge of a navigational watch. This may be reduced to not less than 24 months if not less than 12 months were served as chief mate. The same standard applies for ships between 500 and 3,000 gross tonnage.
Do I need to serve as Chief Officer before becoming Master?
Not always. The STCW II/2 master route requires not less than 36 months as officer in charge of a navigational watch. If you have served not less than 12 months as chief mate, the required watch service may be reduced to not less than 24 months. Serving as chief mate does not replace the master's certificate.
Does a Master need a GMDSS certificate?
If the ship is required to participate in the GMDSS, every person in charge of or performing radio duties must hold an appropriate GMDSS certificate. A Master who uses the radio for distress and routine communications is normally required to hold a GMDSS Radio Operator Certificate.
What medical certificate is required for a Master?
A Master must hold a valid medical certificate before joining a ship. It must state that hearing, sight, and colour vision where relevant are satisfactory. The certificate is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year if under age 18; colour vision is valid for a maximum of six years.
10,000+ Master (Captain) profiles on Krew Guru · 51 vacancies in the last 90 days
Sources
- ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)
- IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (1 July 2010), Resolution 1: The Manila Amendments to the annex to the STCW Convention
Checked against the official texts on 26 Oct 2026.