200721 Attempted suicide

While coasting at the end of a trans-Pacific passage, a training module was planned for two deck cadets after lunch on the bridge. Only one cadet showed up and attempts to find the other proved futile. The crew was mustered and a search began. Some crew members reported that the missing cadet had been seen before lunch, heading out of the accommodation.

When an initial search failed to locate him, the ship was turned around and a track line search commenced. Urgency messages were transmitted on VHF channel 16, and was repeated in intervals of 15 minutes. The coastal authorities were also informed via Inmarsat.

The weather then steadily turned worse, with heavy squally showers affecting visibility and raising a sea of around three metres. By nightfall, several vessels joined in the SAR operations. Finally, at around noon on the following day, one of the participating ships sighted the cadet, still apparently alive. With two other vessels standing by, she lowered a lifeboat to recover the cadet. Unfortunately, the lifeboat was unable to make much progress in the still heavy sea conditions. Observing this, one of the assisting ships manoeuvred to a better position upwind of the cadet and launched the leeside lifeboat.

The cadet was duly recovered and after initial first aid on board the rescuing ship, his condition was stabilised. The operation was terminated and all ships resumed their respective voyages. After arrival in port, the cadet was transferred back to his ship where investigations and interviews were held.

Root cause / contributory factors
The cadet apparently felt alienated and victimised, as a majority of the other crew members were of a different nationality;
Due to severe home-sickness, and perhaps a lack of proper counselling on board, the cadet decided to commit suicide by jumping overboard.

Lessons learnt
Inter-personal relationships between crew members should be closely and unobtrusively monitored by senior officers.
Cases of bullying, alienation and depression should be quickly detected and the victim's grievances should be resolved fairly.
With assistance from the company and radio medical services, appropriate medication may be administered and a crew member suffering from depression kept off work and under continuous supervision, if appropriate.
Cadets and new entrants to the seafaring profession must be given particular attention.
Special care should be taken by companies and manning agents to ensure that every recruit is physically and mentally fit.

Editor's note: Seafarers may not be trained in psychology but many, with maturity, develop a 'feel' for detecting and knack for dealing with personal problems among their colleagues. Given the enclosed working environment on board ship, senior officers and ratings should interact openly with younger colleagues, and with trainees in particular, and play the role of friend, trainer and mentor. The master and senior officers should certainly show everyone that they are approachable, have a sympathetic ear and can come up with practical and acceptable solutions. Whenever conditions permit, a party or similar social get-together can provide a welcome break from set and stressful routines on board.

See also 'Man overboard' pp 22-24; Captain's Column pp 3, April 2007 Seaways.

FEEDBACK - October 2007

Real experience may suggest otherwise. As a 59-year old master, I have seen times and attitudes change. Many seafarers reflect: 'I felt the same when I joined sea, but I was tough and survived.' Some even feel that being tough with cadets is needed to make them 'tough seafarers' or 'good officers'. We need to understand that times have changed, so have people, and in today's world, we may need to change our approach towards trainees. A more flexible approach and empathy to new cadets could go a long way in making them better seafarers in the long run.

As senior officers, it is our responsibility to behave maturely rather than in a rash manner ('My way is the best' 'In my day....'), even if this means our having to accept that we may not be as great seafarers as we think - that the way we were trained may not always have been the best way.