If a ship is sinking, maritime tradition dictates that the captain ensures the safe evacuation of every passenger before he evacuates himself. He (or she) is responsible for the lives of those onboard, and he can't coordinate their exit unless he's the last person off.

The tradition of a captain "going down with the ship" is a social and moral code rooted in 19th-century Victorian chivalry, rather than a specific legal requirement. It emphasizes the captain’s ultimate responsibility for the safety of all souls on board; the captain is expected to be the last person to leave after ensuring every passenger and crew member has been evacuated. Legally, many modern maritime laws (including those in Italy, Greece, and South Korea) make it a crime for a captain to abandon a ship in distress before the passengers. While modern safety protocols prioritize the captain's survival so they can coordinate the rescue from a lifeboat or nearby vessel, the "honor-bound" tradition remains a powerful cultural symbol of leadership and sacrifice, famously exemplified by Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic.