Chain of Command and Bridge Resource Management: A Comparison Between the Merchant Marine and the Canadian Navy

Merchant Marine: a hierarchy governed by the STCW and the CSA 2001 

In the merchant marine, the hierarchy aims to ensure the safety of the vessel, the protection of persons, regulatory compliance, and commercial efficiency. The 2001 Canada Shipping Act defines the master as the person having “command of and charge of the vessel,” responsible for navigation, cargo, and operations at sea and alongside.

The STCW Convention, transposed into the Marine Personnel Regulations (MPR), establishes the minimum competencies for officers: navigation, cargo management, safety, leadership, and Bridge Resource Management (BRM). The term “control” refers to the immediate exercise of actions necessary to conduct the ship, without undermining the master’s strategic authority.

Royal Canadian Navy: Military command and tactical management

The RCN falls under the National Defence Act and the QR&O, which structure the chain of

command, disciplinary powers, and officers’ duties. The Commanding Officer of the ship holds full authority—operational, disciplinary, tactical, and organizational—which may be delegated in part, but never relinquished.

Operational Resource Management (ORM), the military equivalent of BRM, emphasizes stress management, interdepartmental coordination, and resilience in a tactical context.

BRM and ORM: two approaches, one shared objective

Despite distinct contexts, BRM (civilian) and ORM (military) both aim to limit human risk and maintain optimal situational awareness.

Command and control in the merchant marine

Command denotes the supreme legal authority exercised exclusively by the master, as defined by the 2001 CSA. It covers safety, navigation, cargo, crew, and all operations.

Charge: The Officer of the Watch on the bridge (OOW) must ensure the safe conduct of the vessel, maintain the watch, prevent collisions, conduct continuous monitoring, and make immediate decisions to protect life at sea, the vessel, and the environment.

Control: Control corresponds to the immediate execution of conning and maneuvering actions. It is exercised by the officer of the watch in accordance with STCW (section A‑VIII/2), with the master able to resume control at any time. In the civilian context, the term “control” does not always have a single normative definition, but its operational use is consistent.

Command and control in the navy

In the RCN, the Commanding Officer (CO) or Captain holds authority defined by the NDA and the QR&O.

Command: Command encompasses navigation, safety, discipline, unit leadership, tactical operations, and the use of force.

Charge: The permanent responsibility entrusted to an officer for a functional area, a department, or a specific mission of the ship. Unlike the merchant marine (where charge is primarily functional and tied to the watch), in the RCN charge is doctrinal and structuring.

Control: Control is the immediate and operational exercise of a function: navigation, ship management, tactics, weapons, or sensors. Control is divided into two main categories on a naval vessel:

• Navigation control: Exercised by the officer of the watch according to the Captain’s specific directives; and

• Tactical control: Exercised in the Operations Room by:
  

  • the Officer of the Watch (OOW-Combat); or

  • The Combat Officer depending on the level of operations.

Navy summary

Conclusion

Canada applies two distinct hierarchical models aboard ships: a civilian model, regulated internationally, prioritizing safety and efficiency, and a military model, disciplinary and tactical, focused on mission and defense. Officers must have a clear understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the ship’s hierarchical functioning in the performance of their duties.

Despite their differences, both systems share a common priority: ensuring the safety of navigation and protecting human life at sea.