Except in a shore establishment, the senior executive officer on board (other than an officer appointed additional for staff or special duties, or an officer not qualified to command ships or boats) shall, in the temporary absence of the Captain, be responsible for everything done on board. As Commanding Officer for the time being, he shall assume the powers and duties of the Captain. In a shore establishment, command shall descend in the branch of the Captain provided that an officer of any branch other than the Executive Branch shall not assume command if there is an officer of the Executive Branch senior to him; but command shall not devolve on any officer appointed as Captain of staff or special duties or for courses. If the officer appointed as Captain of a shore establishment is an officer of a branch other than that from which the Captain would normally be appointed in accordance with the establishment shall, in the temporary absence of the Captain, descend as though the branch of the Captain were the branch specified in the sanctioned establishment:
Provided that in the case of Indian Naval Ship HOOGHLY and Indian Naval Ship ADYAR the command shall descend to the next senior officer (other than Medical Officer) irrespective of branch.