The primary characters include Captain MacWhirr, whose straightforward and literal approach to his duties forms the central interest of the novel. Even MacWhirr's wife appears to resent him and prefers his long absences due to voyages. Jukes continually finds MacWhirr frustrating and annoying, but luckily, MacWhirr is so engrossed in his responsibilities that he remains oblivious to the irritation and disdain felt by Jukes and some others. MacWhirr is a brave and heroic figure in his own way, as he acknowledges the possibility of the Nan-Shan being lost in the storm but persists nonetheless. However, Conrad's narrative suggests that much of MacWhirr's bravery and the effectiveness of his actions stem from his inability to fully comprehend the dangers he faces. MacWhirr's limitations are evident in his lack of imagination to alter the ship's course and avoid the typhoon, yet his determination allows him to manage the ship and its crew effectively during the crisis while the Nan-Shan is at the storm's mercy. He also recognizes the need to calm the Chinese laborers when they scramble for their money during the storm but fails to foresee the potential for a riot when he redistributes their money in calmer weather. Nonetheless, MacWhirr's reliance on traditional symbols of authority proves sufficient.

In contrast to MacWhirr, the first mate, Mr. Jukes, is a literate and intelligent man, but perhaps he has too much imagination. He worries excessively about sailing under the Siamese flag and anticipates many dangers from the Chinese laborers, especially after MacWhirr confiscates their money during the storm. His anxiety prompts him to help arm the crew with rifles when the money is being redistributed, a precaution that MacWhirr rightly deems unnecessary. Throughout the voyage, Mr. Jukes gains valuable experience on how to survive a storm but struggles to acknowledge the wisdom in MacWhirr's actions.

Unlike Mr. Jukes, the engineer Solomon Rout is a seasoned seafarer who appreciates Captain MacWhirr's straightforward mindset. Rout demonstrates a calm demeanor during crises and, similar to MacWhirr, realizes that the ship’s best hope is to weather the storm. At the novella's conclusion, Rout, a devoted family man, offers a respectful evaluation of MacWhirr's management of both the storm and the Chinese passengers. This judgment contrasts with the begrudging praise from the younger, less seasoned first mate. Although Rout does not provide his wife with a detailed account of the storm and its dangers, the experience has clearly had a sobering impact on him. He ends his letter to Mrs. Rout expressing a desire for them to spend more time together. By the story's end, it seems that Rout has matured, and his days of carefree seafaring without regard for the consequences might be nearing their end.

The second mate of the Nan-Shan , though a minor character, is a bitter and cynical man, likely from West Hartlepool. He has a sharp nose, bad teeth, and "no hair on his face." He was hired in an emergency after the regular second mate was injured and put ashore. As Conrad's narrator notes, he is "one of those men who are picked up at need in the ports of the world." With no friends or family back home, the second mate writes no letters and keeps his thoughts to himself. His career seems marked by poor decisions and bad luck, leading to his cynical outlook. During the storm, the second mate is ineffective, as his ingrained pessimism convinces him that the ship will be lost. While it isn't entirely accurate to say he "lost his nerve," as Captain MacWhirr and the engineer believe, the second mate exemplifies an important...