gCaptain - Latest Comments in The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping

Re: The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping

Babs Beuse — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 04:58:18 -0000

Each watch has it's flaws. Yes, the 3rd is the most inexperienced one, but normally the master is aware of this and if he does not trust him, he will certainly not go sleeping until the 2nd takes over. The 2nd now is normally responsible for navigation. Means he will spend most time of his watch busily correcting charts while some A/B keeps lookout (hopefully...). When now that A/B calls him that he has seen some ship the 2nd mate's eye vision will not be adjusted to night vision since he comes from somewhere behind the curtain where he works with a more or less bright lamp. Then there is the fatigue fact. Especially in ships with many port calls the 2nd never gets enough sleep and so close to the end of his watch he is really really tired. Even more so if he is blessed with that kind of C/O who never relieve their juniors in time and come half hour or so later because they had to check ballast firt or do some other things - or simply stay in bed to demonstrate their superiorness. And then C/O takes over and very soon he starts giving his watchman extra duties (toilet cleaning, empty dustbin,...) or sends him away completely, because he "feels he is experienced enough to do without watchman and this guy is much more useful on deck during day work". Then he will move to the computer and start organizing his planned maintenance or fake the rest hours of the crew or write emails home while he glaces on the radar from while to while.

Re: The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping

Scott Kreger — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:39:08 -0000

Many US Ships, at least the goverment ship's I have sailed on have two 3rd mates in addition to the CM & 2M.

Re: The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping

Patrick — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 07:05:59 -0000

A significant number of ships have adopted an alternative watch schedule

2/m - 00-06, 08-10
c/m - 06-08, 12-1730
3/m - 10-12, 1730-24

This provide 10 to 12 hour rest periods for all involved

Re: The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping

John — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:25:11 -0000

John you're absolutely right, changeover is often the most dangerous time... hard to write an article on that though.

I should have set this part of the post in bold "Not a problem *if* the Third has experience"

Re: The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping

John Denham — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:02:08 -0000

Regarding your article on BRM. See: Naval Institute Proceeding September 1994 pages 111-114.ORGANIZING AND MANAGING THE BRIDGE TEAM. The most important word is organizing. It doesn't just happen. In APL it cost over $1,00,000 in training to convince many experienced , senior captains the bridge watch personnel were not individuals but teams, licensed, unlicensed and pilots. Few ships unmoor with the same people on the bridge as during the transit to or from sea. The article was written after implemenation at APL. The US Navy has a system of assigning duties to persons on the bridge for combat but few recognize the risk in day today navigation. See:" Why Didn't I Slow down." Naval Institue Proceeding January 1966 Page 79-81

Re: The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping

John Denham — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:15:15 -0000

The article incorrectly implies ALL ships at sea are as described whereas many ships (cruise , MM&P manned vessel) frequently have licensed masters as 3rd mates. My experience was that all watch changing times were most exposed to distractions, confusion and misunderstanding. Always of concern was the evening meal relief.