The Captain Who Leads by Example: Joseph Zayac’s Service to Safety

Zayac’s path to maritime leadership began unconventionally. “When people ask how I got into the Merchant Marine, I say, ‘I saw a picture in the college guidebook of someone on a ship and thought it would be interesting,'” he recalls. With no family maritime background, he graduated from New York Maritime College in 2003 with a degree in Marine Environmental Science and an unlimited tonnage Third Mate’s license. 

What started as trying something new became a 22-year career. Zayac spent 14 years on general cargo ships “tramping all over mainly Africa and occasionally the far east,” he says, “although sometimes you never knew where we would end up.” When he decided to join TOTE in 2016, he was willing to step back from Master to Chief Mate, recognizing the company’s reputation. “TOTE is such a good company, I was willing to go back to Chief Mate with the hope of being moved back to Captain,” he explains. It didn’t take long; TOTE promoted him to Captain of the Perla Del Caribe in December 2017. 

Captain Joseph Zayac aboard the Perla Del Caribe

Today, Zayac doesn’t manage safety from the bridge—he demonstrates it on deck. “I do like to lead by example, doing work out on deck and in the engine room with the crew,” he explains. “From my years on sports teams, I think it shows the crew that we are all in it together.” 

“When the crew witnesses the captain outfitted in full personal protective gear executing rigorous, physically demanding projects, they are inspired to follow his example,” TOTE VP of Marine Operations, JP Marcantonio, stated in Zayac’s nomination. 

This hands-on approach reflects his understanding that maintaining physical fitness isn’t vanity—it’s responsibility. His commitment to personal conditioning ensures he can safely perform the laborious tasks he asks of his crew, embodying the leadership principle that you never ask others to do what you won’t do yourself. 

Zayac’s safety philosophy centers on three priorities, in order of importance: Safety of the Seamen, Safety of the Ship, and Safety of the Seas. “I reiterate it each week at the drill debrief/safety meeting because I believe it is that important,” he says. 

This framework serves as more than a slogan—it’s a decision-making tool. “I have found it is the simplest way to get someone to remember safety priorities,” Zayac explains. “If I can get the crewmember to remember these three things in that order, they can think their way through any emergency situation.” 

Perhaps nowhere is Zayac’s commitment to service more evident than in his approach to heavy weather routing. Using his meteorology background, he doesn’t just make decisions—he explains them. “I follow the motto of full transparency. I show the crew the predicted weather at the weekly drill debrief, and increase the intervals as needed.” 

Understanding that uncertainty breeds anxiety, Zayac maintains open office hours during challenging weather periods. “I have had times when I have kept office hours where I made myself available for anyone to come to me to review the weather and discuss our plan,” he explains. “I want people to feel confident that we are doing the right thing, and they aren’t concerned that we are hiding information from them.” 

His transparency extends to personal concerns. Before widespread WiFi calling, Zayac would offer crew members access to the satellite phone to check on family affected by weather at home. “A five-minute SAT phone call to a family member can make all the difference in someone’s state of mind,” he reflects. 

Under Zayac’s leadership, the Perla Del Caribe submitted 65 S.A.I.L. near-miss observations in 2024—the second-highest in the fleet. His success stems from understanding that reporting systems require both buy-in and follow-through. 

“To have a successful system, you need buy-in from the department heads as well as the crew,” he explains. “The Chief Engineer, Chief Mate, and Steward need to encourage and empower the crew to submit near misses.” 

More importantly, Zayac ensures every report receives a meaningful response. “People will not continue to be motivated to submit near misses if they are submitted and there is no follow-up action. People don’t want to spend the time to write a near miss if it is just going to go into oblivion, with no change.” 

Zayac’s third “S“—Safety of the Seas—reflects his commitment to environmental protection. Since taking command of the Perla Del Caribe in December 2017, he has maintained zero spills to water, demonstrating that environmental responsibility and operational excellence reinforce each other. 

Despite commanding a sophisticated vessel on one of the maritime industry’s most demanding routes, Zayac maintains perspective about his role. “At the end of the day, work is all about the crew completing their tours and returning home to their families with no injuries,” he reflects. 

His humility extends to recognition. Upon receiving the Devlin Award for four years without a lost-time incident, Zayac’s pride centered not on personal achievement but on collective success: “This award was presented to the vessel for four years without a lost time incident.  

Dan Toscano, VP of Safety for TOTE Group, presenting Captain Zayac with a Saltchuk safety recognition coin

“Safety for TOTE and Saltchuk is ingrained in our culture. It’s our main focus of each evolution onboard and ashore,” he explains.  

This support manifests in practical ways—from funding for safety equipment to backing crew decisions when safety concerns arise. “If there is a doubt as to whether we can do it safely, we don’t do it until we can accomplish it safely,” Zayac notes.

Marcantonio recognizes this comprehensive approach: “Captain Zayac’s dedication to safety has earned the respect and admiration of his crew, peers, customers, and the operations leadership team. He is a shining example of the highest standards of professionalism and safety excellence. He inspires everyone through effective communications, empathy for people as individuals, and leadership by example.” 

His advice to other maritime leaders reflects his service-oriented approach: “Empower your crew to speak openly about safety issues. Don’t talk a big game about safety without any action. If you say you are going to improve safety, show the crew that you are making your best effort to improve safety issues.” 

For Captain Zayac, receiving the Michael D. Garvey Award validates an approach that puts service to crew and safety above all else. His leadership demonstrates that distinguished service in safety isn’t about perfect records—it’s about creating conditions where people feel valued, informed, and empowered to do their best work while knowing they’ll return home safely to their families.