98006 Carelessness by Officer of the Watch

Carelessness by Officer of the Watch
Report No. 98006

The 2/O on the 8/12 watch had commenced his morning watch on the bridge and, in line with the Master's Standing Orders, had started one engine after the ship had spent a period of time drifting. The Master observed from the Radio Room window that a turn to starboard was taking place. The 2/O was then observed to pass that window walking aft and returning some three or four minutes later, holding his trouser belt which the Master assumed he must have left in his cabin. During the 2/O's absence, a large bulk carrier was seen passing down the port side at a distance of approximately 1 mile. A few minutes after the 2/O returned to the bridge, the master walked into the wheel house. The 2/O was seen working on the chart table whilst outside the bulk carrier was now observed approaching us from the starboard quarter. The ship was in hand steering and the helmsman had the wheel to starboard, the ship was in fact making a large turn to starboard. When questioned what his intentions were, the 2/O could not reply to the Master and appeared shocked when the bulk carrier was pointed out approximately 6 cables off the starboard quarter. The 2/O put the wheel to midships but the port engine kept the vessel turning. The Master took over and had the wheel put hard to port which corrected the swing and took the ship away from the path of the bulk carrier. The 2/O, when further questioned could not give the course or speed of the bulk carrier, neither did he have the ARPA on in order to obtain that information. The Master was convinced that the 2/O was completely unaware of the other vessel and that he was starting what was a commonplace manoeuvre for this vessel without taking any effort to check for or plot other vessels which may have been in the vicinity. Fortunately, the OOW on the bulk carrier took no evasive action which may have compounded the situation, assuming no doubt, that a vessel which had just started up would keep clear of him, even though he may have been extremely confused as to the intentions of a ship making a large turn at close range.