Shipboard Families and Dependents

Shipboard Families and Dependents are the non-combatant civilians aboard the vessel—spouses, children, and other dependents—treated as a vulnerable population during crises. The bridge directs their assembly on odd-numbered decks for protection, triage, sealing of non-operational areas, and prioritized evacuation. They possess no internal command hierarchy; senior ship officers assume protective authority and coordinate medical and logistical measures on their behalf.