(1888PressRelease)
September 05, 2007 - Maritime accidents cost the shipping industry a million dollars a day* and too many happen when the vessel should be safest, when it's under the conduct of a pilot who knows his domain** and ship's officers who know their ship. But who's in charge when a pilot is on the bridge? Who's really at fault when the pilot gets it wrong? And how can a pilot get it so wrong? Maritime Accident Casebook (http://maritimeaccident.wordpress.com) takes on the issue of pilot error and ships' officer's responsibilities in its latest podcast episode - The Case of the Baffling Bays.
In September 1997 the bulk carrier Raven Arrow grounded on the British Columbian coast when a fatigued pilot confused three bays with similar radar signatures, missed an alter course position and drove the vessel at full speed into a dead end instead of the channel he thought was there, due, in part, to the obedience of the ship's second officer.
Even though the incident happened a decade ago, such incidents continue to occur, and for the same reasons. In The Case Of The Baffling Bays, Maritime Accident Casebook seeks to offer practical solutions for the individual seafarer.
Bob Couttie, writer and presenter of Maritime Accident Casebook says: "Incidents involving pilots worry the industry. The Raven Arrow case covers a lot of issues. There are the obvious ones like the pilot's fatigue, bridge resource management and poor navigational practices that just shouldn't happen but also subtle cultural issues that affect safe navigation.
Maritime Accident Casebook, MAC, is a unique, free, informal educational resource for seafarers and maritime trainers which seeks to empower seafarers through knowledge to keep themselves alive and their ships safe. Using audio podcasts that can be played on any computer, MP3 Player or MP3-capable cellphone and online downloadable hard-copy transcripts, MAC encourages seafarers to discuss lessons learned from real-life events and apply them to their own vessels and working practices to create a safety-conscious community.
The Case Of The Baffling Bays is the seventh episode in Bob Couttie's Maritime Accident Casebook. Earlier episodes deal with fatigue, over-reliance on electronic navigation, lifeboat safety, safe anchoring in typhoons, heavy equipment safety and entry into enclosed spaces.
*UK P&I Club estimate
** American P&I Club
For further information about Bob Couttie's Maritime Accident Casebook see the website at http://maritimeaccident.wordpress.com, email maritimeaccident ( @ ) yahoo dot com or call cellphone (+63928) 936-5665.
