Why do captains of ship's go down with it if it is sinking?

Question

Like what does this prove? It seems silly and if it's a tradition where'd it start? What are we trying to prove here...

Answer 1

first off, its greatly romanticized, and doesnt happen much in reality, but i think its from the idea that the captain should be inseperable from his ship, and that theyre part of eachother.

Answer 2

The tradition is that a captain is supposed to be the last man off. If however he's responsible for the sinking it was better to sink than face the many layers of public hell you would go through once you got home and besides he'd never be a captain again. It started back in the days of sail when captains were seen as godlike figures and held to a very high standards and honor was worth more than life I know there is no honor system as strong as it was then so it will be hard to comprehend it today.

Answer 3

“When I lost my rifle, the Army charged me 85 dollars. That is why in the Navy the Captain goes down with the ship.” Dick Gregory

But seriously, while I couldn't find a documented answer, I think it has to do with a.) honor--which may seem silly to us these days but, then again, many of us would not want to live knowing we were responsible for the deaths of a bunch of people and b.) some serious motivation to keep from sinking to begin with.

In any case, I think some modern captains might take this literally but in practice it really means the captain is the last off i.e. s/he goes down with the ship if anyone else does.

Answer 4

I have worked as senior deckhand on many different boats and although it may be different on a 300' ship than a 100' one I have never known a captain that would go down with the ship if he/she had a choice. I also have never known a captain that would be the first to leave. For the captain to go down with the ship would actually leave the passengers more vulnerable without a strong leader to make command decisions in the lifeboats. The captains responsibility is the passengers not the ship.

Answer 5

The captain goes down with the ship because the ship is the captain and the captain is the ship. They have a relationship to one another and at the same time it is a thing oh honor, chivalry, and pride. To go down with your ship is one of the most honorable things a man can do if he is a captain. Personally if I were to own a ship and it was going down I would go down with it so that I would not be remembered for being cowardly. To leave your ship behind to die without its commander is similar to just letting your child go through life and be a screw-up and doing nothing about it but turning your head and walking away

Answer 6

I am the captain of my ship. Here are the reasons I would go down with my ship, not in any particular order.

If my fly is stuck on the helm.
If the water is only 5ft more than draft and I want to put on a good show.
If the discovery channel was filming.
If captain Morgan was controlling my reasoning abilities.
If I had accidental death double indemnity life insurance AND terminal cancer.
If Hilary Clinton wins the presidential election.

Answer 7

It is the most important example of Love of the Job. It is the Responsibility of the Captain to not to leave his ship untill he feels there is no life endangered to drown with the ship. When captain is on the ship, he is like a Parents of ship so he will better to go down if ship is too......Its' Like a tradition and will go on forever............Sometime it depends upon the mindset of the person if he/she is a coward then they can abandon the ship alone....This happens too......only sometimes.

Answer 8

It depends on the type of ship cap'n and if they feel responsible.
A cap'n of a small fishing boat who accidently hits a reef probably Will not feel a need but the cap'n of the Titanic for example, who it is believed was racing through icebergs to try to set a speed record at the insistance of the white star president, did it is believed intentionally went down with his ship because, the lives of those people were his responsibility and his actions cost them there lives.

Answer 9

In past decades it was looked at as being traditional to "go down with your vessel." Any captain who saved themselves was looked at as being a coward. Like the old ways were ladies first, as the same on ships, children and women were to be saved before the men. I personally believe it was rather ridiculous. If you were on a foundering vessel, wouldn't you want to save yourself at all cost? I know I would.

Answer 10

honestly, I did artwork for a ferry employer the position between the ships sank. The crew replaced into experienced considerably in evacuation and hearth scuffling with, and all souls were accounted for except 2. The captain stayed on board and made particular all crew and passengers were off then joined them to make their thanks to shore. because of cutting-edge communique, there replaced into help on the way and interior the hour each body replaced into on shore and getting warmth and dry. So, in answer for your question, see you later as all souls were accounted for, there is not any aspect endangering your own existence with the help of very last on the deliver. with the help of how, even as households are evacuated, we shop the individuals at the same time as to diminish the misery!