Shipmaster

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Ship Master is both a term the Covenant use to describe anyone or anything in charge of a single ship (including Humans) as well as an actual office in the Covenant navy. As described by their title, Sangheili Ship Masters often command a single Covenant Starship. The size of the Starship does not seem to matter, whether a Covenant Frigate or a Reverence-class Cruiser.

Rank
When referring to a Sangheili, Ship Master is a Covenant title for a high-ranking Covenant Elite who is in command of a single Starship. As per to denote their high-ranking status, most Ship Masters usually have bodyguards, such as a Hunter pair or a Lance. While Ship Masters hold their individual power to command, they still fall under the chain of command, taking orders from their Fleet's Fleet Master, Supreme Commander or Imperial Admiral.

From what the UNSC has observed, the Ship Master of a particular ship gives orders from the command center of their vessel, the rough equivalent of a UNSC Starship's bridge. There they oversee and supervise the running of the ship, and give orders during battle. They command the ship from a platform raised off the deck, surrounded by holoscreens displaying relevant information.

Before Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, it was assumed that only Zealots could hold the rank of Ship Master. However, after killing the previous Ship Master of their vessel, the Incorruptible, Major Domo Voro 'Mantakree was given the title of Ship Master, and then promoted to Zealot so that he could become a Fleet Master, in charge of a task force sent to Onyx. Given the sheer size of the Covenant, the majority of Ship Masters are probably either Major Domos or Ultras.

As such, higher ranks than Zealot may hold command positions over a Starship. The Arbiter, should their role call for it, could be given command of the ship. Councilors could also have the potential to be a Ship Master, having even Zealots subordinate to them. These ranks could theoretically be considered the Ship Master of a particular ship; most likely the flagship of the Fleet. There are also Brute equivalents to the Ship Master, called Alpha Jiralhanae - these may be equivalent to the entire Zealot range.

Also, as shown in Halo: Contact Harvest and Halo: The Cole Protocol, the title of Ship Master could be held by other species than the Sangheili and Jiralhanae, specifically Jackals, in both case female ones, hence the name Ship Mistress. The only Ship Mistresses so far are Chur'R-Yar and Chur 'R-Mut.

Physical Appearance
Elite Ship Masters featured thus far, don't appear to have any changes to their armor to distinguish themselves from other members of their rank (it is impossible to tell a Zealot Ship Master apart from a Zealot Field Master based on their armor, for example). Other types of Ship Masters, such as Alpha Brutes or Minor Prophets, are yet to be sighted. It is unknown if their armor would be different, to denote their individual rank. (Though it seems Lepidus, the Ship master who attacked Michigan, wore dark purple armor, and the design was that of a Captain.)

Halo: The Cole Protocol
A Jackal Ship Mistress and a unknown Brute ship master appear in this novel.They plot against Thel 'Vadamee and his Zealot allies.

Halo: Combat Evolved
Only one Ship Master is seen, the Ship Master of the Truth and Reconciliation. He was killed by the Master Chief during his infiltration of the ship to find and rescue Captain Keyes. As a senior officer, his combat skills are honed, and he makes far fewer tactical mistakes than, for example, Minor Elites, but he is still subdued by the Spartan.

Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
Two Ship Masters are mentioned in Ghosts of Onyx. The first is Tano 'Inanraree, and the second is his successor and killer, Voro 'Mantakree. 'Mantakree later was given the office of Fleet Master to pursue the Human controlled Covenant Destroyer Bloodied Spirit.

Halo 3
In Halo 3, Rtas 'Vadum holds the position of Ship Master. He is seen commanding the Assault Carrier, Shadow of Intent, as well as a small battle group that glasses Voi and the surrounding areas.

Known Ship Masters
These, so far, are the only identified Ship Masters/Ship Mistress's.


 * Rtas 'Vadum - Ship Master of the Shadow of Intent.
 * Orna 'Fulsamee - Ship Master of the Truth and Reconciliation.
 * Tano 'Inanraree - Ship Master of the Incorruptible.
 * Qunu - Ship Master of the Far Sight Lost.
 * Chur'R-Yar - Kig-yar Ship Mistress of the Minor Transgression.
 * Maccabeus - Jiralhanae Ship Master of the Rapid Conversion.
 * Chur 'R-Mut - Kig-yar Ship Mistress of the A Psalm Every Day.


 * Lepidus - Jiralhanae Ship Master of the Triumphant Declaration.
 * Gargantum - Jiralhanae Ship Master of the Twilight Compunction

Trivia

 * Though speculated to be the Covenant equivalents to UNSC Navy Captains, they may wield more influence than expected - Ship Masters have been seen in Halo: The Flood and Halo 3 directing relatively small battle groups, instead of single ships (though occasionally in 20th and 21st century fleets, the flagships' captain will command the fleet in the absence of an admiral. It's possible a similar system is used by the Sangheili, or the Covenant in general.)
 * So far, the only Sangheili ranks confirmed holding the title of Ship Master are Zealots, Ultras and Major Domos.
 * Rtas 'Vadum and Voro Nar 'Mantakree (when firstly promoted) are the only known Ship Masters that were not zealots.
 * In Halo 3, after the memorial, Rtas 'Vadum hands the Shadow of Intent over to the Arbiter. This may technically give him the position of Ship Master.
 * Rtas 'Vadum is the most known Ship Master. You see him in videos through out Halo 3. He is also the only other Elite other than the Arbiter to call the Master Chief "SPARTAN" and not "Demon"."
 * As seen in Halo 3, the Ship Master (Rtas 'Vadum) was in control of the entire Covenant Fleet. This would make Rtas 'Vadum a Fleet Master.
 * Voro Nar 'Mantakree was known for becoming a Ship Master when he killed his CO aboard the Covenant Cruiser, the Incorruptible.
 * Sanghelli Ship Masters are known to wear Doarmir fur cloaks as a sign of status.