Preamble:
We, the captain and crew of the good schooner Free Spirit, in search of adventure, redemption, and doubtful fortune in general, agree to the following articles as a guide for success in our maritime endeavors, whatever shape they may take.
I. GENERAL
The captain shall make every effort to ensure that the vessel is operated in a safe and responsible manner, while accomplishing the goals and objectives of each mission.
All officers and crew shall follow the orders of the captain to the best of their ability.
II. NAVIGATION
An active lookout will be kept at all times while underway or in questionable anchorage, except when deemed unsafe or needless by the captain.
Every effort will be made to avoid a collision, regardless of right of way considerations.
If in doubt about anything concerning the navigation or welfare of the vessel, or crew, the deck watch will have the captain notified immediately regardless of any other circumstance.
The on deck watch will notify the captain of any vessel sighted, or of any significant change in the throttle setting, course, wind, weather, or sea state, except as otherwise arranged.
All vessels sighted will be thoroughly identified upon sighting if a danger of collision or entanglement could possibly exist.
Running lights and additional lighting as needed will be used at night or during periods of reduced visibility.
In limited visibility, ships speed will be reduced when practical to permit stopping within the existing range of visibility.
Anyone on watch alone shall notify the captain or offgoing watch before going onto the bowsprit, or otherwise leaving the protective area of the deck.
In inclement weather, the offgoing watch or the captain will be notified prior to the deck watch leaving the raised after deck area.
In severe weather, any lone watchman will carry a knife, wear a PFD, (type V or superior) and be secured to the boat.
In general, it is recommended that all hands keep a knife (either very sharp or with a serrated blade, or both) and small length of stout line (300 lb or better) on their person at all times while on deck.
III. OFFSHORE (in addition to the above)
The captain shall be on deck for any landfall.
Any sighting of land, surf, or shoals will be immediately reported to the captain.
Unfamiliar landfalls will not be attempted in conditions which do not permit the detection of uncharted hazards.
Entry to shoaling areas will be accomplished during a rising tide when practical.
IV. EMERGENCY
In case of any emergency such as fire, man overboard, sinking, or a similarly life threatening predicament, the person discovering the emergency shall first sound an alarm, then take steps to deal with the situation.
In the case of a person overboard, the ship will be stopped (rounded up) immediately, and one crew member will keep the victim in sight at all times, except at the expense of the vessel. A mark will be made of the GPS position if available, noting wind direction and current if possible. All crew will be roused immediately, and flotation or marking equipment will be cast overboard to the victim if within range. If the ship must move on, flotsam will be cast overboard to mark the area in the water to aid in finding the victim.
Rafts will not be launched nor distress calls made except at the direction of the captain.
Except for fresh water, the ditch bag and ships papers, nothing will be brought into a raft except by direction of the captain.
V. CONDUCT
All aboard will conduct themselves in a civilized and respectable manner, befitting their station and responsibilities both ashore and on board, so as to reflect favourably on and to garner respect for the vessel. Due and appropriate consideration will be given to others present, be they dignitaries, ladies, rogues or children.
The captain will deal with crewmembers on an even and impartial manner as pertaining to conduct and the business of the ship.
All articles, spaces, and persons aboard are subject to inspection at the discretion of the captain.
No one except crew will be allowed to board the boat except by specific arrangement with the Captain, Purser, or those delegated with this authority. Exceptions will be made for authorized law enforcement officials and the like.
As a rule, guests of the crew are welcome, but in each case arrangements must be made.
Crewmembers are responsible for the actions of their guests, and are also responsible for the removal of said guest from the boat should it be required.
Ships stores, including food, liquor, cargo, and potable water, are the personal property of the ships owners. The purser is responsible for the equitable, efficient and safe disbursement of these stores among the crew. The Pursers regulation of these supplies will be adhered to by the Captain and Crew. The theft of ships stores will be cause for censure or summary dismissal.
Honesty among the crew is paramount. Intentional misrepresentation of events or situations occurring on or pertaining to the safety, operation, or status of the vessel, its crew, its cargo, or mission will be cause for dismissal at the sole discretion of the captain. If a situation arises where privacy is an issue, the crew is entitled to explicitly refuse to answer for this reason, and every accommodation will be made to respect the privacy of that individual except as it may directly impact the safety and welfare of vessel and crew.
Except by specific arrangement, anyone parting company from the ship for any reason, at any port, will thereafter be responsible for their own expenses, including any costs of travel or repatriation.
In the event where a debt, fine, or need for bailment is incurred by a crewmember, not acting on behalf of the ship, and not under the captains specific orders, that crewmember will be responsible for any and all such debts, regardless of whether the ship pays for them or not.
VI. GROG
The laws of the US and other countries provide for the immediate seizure of any vessel found to be carrying even minute quantities of illegal substances, so this is something we must take very very seriously. If you want to smoke it up on shore, we don't have a problem with that - just stay out of trouble, show up for duty sober, and leave it on shore. No illegal drugs or drug related articles will be brought on board the ship at any time, not even in trace amounts. The term "illegal drugs" is taken to mean any substance that is considered illegal by the US Government, The State of Alaska, or if onshore, by the government whose waters the ship sails within.
No one may be intoxicated while on duty or on watch. The obituaries and shipwrecks for any given year bear sufficient explanation for this.
If you are required to perform a specific task ashore, (such as drive people or goods to or from the boat, or perform some other shoreside errand) then you are effectively on duty until the task is complete. If you wish to go ashore and drink yourself to oblivion, no problem, just make sure no one is counting on you to perform some responsible task first.
In general, visibly intoxicated guests or crew have no business in a small boat, and this should be kept in mind. Such guests may be denied boarding upon sight by the captain or purser, as they represent an unacceptable liability and security risk. Every effort will be made to disembark such persons in a safe and orderly fashion.
As it directly effects the safety of all aboard, no crewmember shall be visibly intoxicated within 12 hours of a scheduled departure. Although a drink may be served, intoxication is not permitted by crew or captain while underway.
It is requested that prior to work or duty days, crewmembers exercise appropriate judgment concerning drinking; hangover or residual intoxication will affect the quality of your work, your interaction with other crew, the safety of yourself and others, and may generally make you miserable. While no specific rule will be made concerning this, repeated problematic conduct is warned against.
Crew members may ship their own private stores aboard, but in the case of alcohol or other intoxicants, these must be given over to the purser for holding or disbursement if onboard within 12 hours prior to, or during, the movement of the ship, until the ship is in port.
VII. FINANCE and DRUDGERY
Though service aboard is on a volunteer basis, each crewmember will be given tasks and responsibilities both at sea and on shore. These responsibilities are necessary for the safe and timely function of the ship, as judged solely by the captain, and are not to be taken lightly. All are expected to perform their assigned duties, and any refusal, negligence, or insubordination will be cause for censure or immediate dismissal and debarkation as the captain sees fit.
Watch rotations will be prepared by the captain for use while underway. In general, the offgoing watch is responsible for first response of any need of the active watch, including temporary relief, refreshments, and assistance. Orders for rousting crew for sail handling will be given to the watch by the captain to suit the prevailing conditions. If in doubt, obtain additional assistance.
Duty / Work / Sailing schedules will be prepared by the captain, with due consideration to the crew given. Such schedules are subject to modification or addendum at any time to accommodate the needs of the ship, though this will not be done lightly or without cause.
As the ships crew is a volunteer service, accommodation will be given for shore leave and days off during which other employment may be sought.
On given days off there is to be no restriction on working off the ship, except as it might conflict with the ships mission. If working off ship on specified duty days (not off days), 20% of the monies received will be given to the ship to be distributed as follows: 15% distributed among the volunteer crew to ease their additional hardship and 5% to the ships purse to go towards crew recreation.
In cases of salvage, fortune, or prize, shares may be gifted by the captain as follows: First, the actual expense of the mission may be given back to the ship (fuel, supplies, damage, etc). Of the remainder, 40% may go to the ship, captain, and purser, and the remainder may be divided evenly among the volunteer crew, not to exceed 20 percent for any one crewmember, with special dispensation for risk, bravery, action, or injury given at the sole discretion of the captain.
