The tradition of ship capt having absolute authority has been known for hundreds of years. Even as I have never worked on ships, nor served in the Navy, but have always remember this tradition. When I was working in the heavy industry, many operators/ engineers were ex-ship or submarine staffs. An ex-ship staff who graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy had served as in-term staff on a big cargo ship with few others. The old capt was a dictator who treats the in-terms as cabin-boys, not respectfully. He always wants a warm glass of lightly sweetened milk with his big super. One night these cabin boys (in-terms) decided to each spit into the bottom of the milk glass, then serve stirred warm milk in it. I later met another ex-ship staff in our plant, he concurred the story, since he was one of them. 😄🙃😎 Yes, Sr. Capt Lee explained the regulation thoroughly, he represents the ship owners. No rules, no ship.