DISQUS

David Hindin · 2 years ago

I am under the impression that the pilot comes aboard the ship with his own laptop loaded with charts. The laptop has an interface to the "Pilot Port" of the ship's AIS system giving him connectivity to the ships GPS and the other navigation systems. This connectivity gives the pilot the same AIS derived picture that VTS sees. Can someone affirm or deny my assertion regarding SF pilots. If I am correct, the pilot can navigate from his own laptop making it unnecessary for him to (mis)interpret the ships chart display?

John · 2 years ago

David, I do know that type of system exists and I've seen it in use by Tampa Bay Pilots.. I do not know what specifically the SF pilots bring aboard as I have not sailed the bay with a State pilot in at least 5 years.

Things might change though. I have to think the Tampa Skyway Bridge disaster had something to do with the implementation of new systems

http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/may-9-1980-ta...

captstash · 2 years ago

The SF pilots don't as a rul utilize the laptop systems and the AIS plug. I am a bit puzzled about th nws rports and the lost radar. All ssls ar requird to have two working radars. So vbn if one quit, there should have been a scond available.

Unfortunately our pilotage system does not reinforce safety to the point that a pilot can comfortably refuse to sail a ship, or require it to go to anchor when equipment fails. Perhaps this incident will get us to that point.

Capt. Bill · 2 years ago

John, I thought I'd post some of our previous discussion.

It seems fairly apparent to me and other captains the cause of this situation was the failure of the Chinese bridge team to communicate effectively and know their equipment.

I think the biggest failure here was the company changing out an ENTIRE set of officers at once. This is NOT standard practice for American ships. My company never changes out more than one senior officer per port unless there are IMPORTANT extenuating circumstances. Changing out the Chief Mate and Master at the same time is just dangerous because there is no continuity. Changing out the Master, Ch mate, 2nd mate and 3rd mate in the same week is SUICIDAL and it’s no wonder none of them had a clew how to tune the radar or ECDIS.

Sorry john I’m going to quote your email, “A ship's quirks, equipment and the interpersonal relationships among the crew are different on every ship and can't be learned in a short period of time.”

This is why some companies make a captain sail as chief mate on a ship before giving him command. How else could he learn the Furuno Radar needs an extra 1/4 turn of sea state adjustment to be tuned or that helmsmen XO CHIN tends to oversteer or that the second mate always forgets to put danger bearings in the radar?

My assessment:
The shipping company was criminal for changing out the entire crew at once
The captain was an idiot for accepting such a job
The pilot screwed up by not refusing to sail with a brand new crew in poor weather conditions

Col Riv Towboater · 2 years ago

I agree with your assessment Capt Bill except that I believe the existing Pilot Rules and Rules of the Road would prevail over economic or social pressure in this situation. I really hope I am not naive. I understand Cota's predictament but it is not exuse. He should have dogged that ship to the dock & waited for fog to lift or hired a escort thru the first second the radar glitch AND language barrier was apparent.

Sorry Capt Cota, Im trying to find a reason to defend you...

Capt. Bill · 2 years ago

Towboater, no I agree the Rules supersede all which means the capt's to blame. My argument is the blame goes as follows:
Cosco: For changing out an entire crew at once
Capt: For taking a suicidal job assignment
Cota: for leaving in bad weather with these newbies on the bridge

Col Riv Towboater · 2 years ago

Bill, thx, I understand. But...I feel that regardless whether it was a "green crew" or a crew that literally lived thier total lives aboard that Ship, once the radar issues arose AND a language barrier was realized, Capt Coto had every right under several existing rules to drop anchor until the situation was under control.

Ive found this site and several others looking for a reason to defend Capt Coto...a fellow Professional Mariner... and I cant find one.