How might a boarding officer assess the competency of the crew?

A boarding officer can effectively assess the competency of the crew by reviewing crew certifications and conducting interviews. This method provides direct evidence of the crew members' qualifications, training, and overall readiness to operate the vessel safely and effectively. Certifications indicate that the crew has met specific standards and undergone necessary training, which is crucial for compliance with maritime regulations and safety practices. Interviews allow the boarding officer to gauge the crew’s understanding of their roles and responsibilities, emergency procedures, and the operational status of the vessel.

Other assessments, such as observing crew conduct during the inspection, can be relevant but do not provide the direct evidence of qualifications like certification reviews do. Inspecting the vessel's hull and checking cargo capacity focus more on the vessel itself rather than the crew's competency, which is essential for ensuring the vessel operates safely and in compliance with regulations. Thus, while those actions may be important in the broader context of vessel safety and compliance, they do not specifically assess crew competency as thoroughly as reviewing certifications and conducting interviews.