Trivia: The scene where Belle (Shelly Winters) dives into the water was actually rehearsed by having her jump into the water. She decided to dive in while filming the scene and that take was used.
Trivia: The look of the set for the upside down engine room was so real, the actors refused to climb anything, fearing that it would fall. The set designer and builders had to climb it first to prove it would hold.
Trivia: Even though Jack Albertson and Shelley Winters played the happily married couple, Albertson strongly disliked working with Winters and even said, "The happiest moment making the movie for me was when she died."
Answer: He's the representative of the owner of the ship.