The mate is the officer next in rank to the master, and in case of the master’s disability the mate becomes the master. By so doing he does not lose any of his rights as mate.
Cal. Harb. & Nav. Code § 860
Mates and Seamen
Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 368.
Official source: California Legislative Information. Reproduced from public-domain California statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.