[QUOTE=tengineer1;165751]We have no licensed captains that have experience moving anchors with a ship this big so we are going to bring up a guy that is great on smaller ships moving anchors and we think he will catch on, it will be like OJT.[/QUOTE]
Since there has never been an American AHTS that big no, there are no captains with experience moving anchors with boats that big. But the Dino Chouest, Laney Chouest, and Kirt Chouest are really damn big so there are anchor boat captains with experience on big boats. The problem is there aren’t many (or any) experienced anchor handlers with unlimited master licenses at ECO. So unless Anchorman wants to go be master on the Aiviq the situation we have is the only viable option.
Also, when you take a pilot to run up a long narrow channel do you become a “paper captain” and the pilot becomes the “pilot captain”? Just because he needs specialized vessel handlers to drive during anchor operations doesn’t make the master of the Aiviq not be the master during those operations or mean he ever gives up command of the vessel. To me, calling them “anchor captains” is just shorthand for “highly experienced anchor boat captains”, not that they magically become “captain” during anchor work. (Then again, I actually believe there is only one captain on a vessel and the person in command when the master is off watch is the chief mate, not another “captain”.)
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;165791]Since there has never been an American AHTS that big no, there are no captains with experience moving anchors with boats that big. But the Dino Chouest, Laney Chouest, and Kirt Chouest are really damn big so there are anchor boat captains with experience on big boats. The problem is there aren’t many (or any) experienced anchor handlers with unlimited master licenses at ECO. So unless Anchorman wants to go be master on the Aiviq the situation we have is the only viable option.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for that explanation. Knowing that the Dino, Laney and Kirt are really damn big and if they were in any country but the USA the master would be required to hold an unlimited license AND knowing the Aviq was going to be “unlimited class” a long time ago. Why in the world did Chouest not insist that their most experienced anchor handling masters get a proper license so they could be used on this very important job? The lack of viable options seems to be self inflicted.
They did, they pulled the masters off of two of their large AHTS’s so that they could get their 3rd mate unlimited, I worked with two of the captains and they are exceptional anchor captains.
[QUOTE=caldwell275;165794]They did, they pulled the masters off of two of their large AHTS’s so that they could get their 3rd mate unlimited, I worked with two of the captains and they are exceptional anchor captains.[/QUOTE]
Again, what the hell is a anchor captain??? A ship can only have one, 1, uno, captain!
Okay, I will explain to the people who have no or limited experience on an anchor boat. there is the master of a vessel, he is in overall command of the vessel, but, the person sitting in the port chair during anchor operations takes command, he is in charge of the operation and can override the master if it warrants, the winch operator sits in the starboard chair and runs the winch, sometimes he thinks he runs the show and tries to push it, it is the guy sitting in the port chair that squelches him, the guy running the show is the anchor captain, he may or may not be the master of the vessel. He is the captain during anchor operations.
[QUOTE=caldwell275;165797]Okay, I will explain to the people who have no or limited experience on an anchor boat. there is the master of a vessel, he is in overall command of the vessel, but, the person sitting in the port chair during anchor operations takes command, he is in charge of the operation and can override the master if it warrants, the winch operator sits in the starboard chair and runs the winch, sometimes he thinks he runs the show and tries to push it, it is the guy sitting in the port chair that squelches him, the guy running the show is the anchor captain, he may or may not be the master of the vessel. He is the captain during anchor operations.[/QUOTE]
I am as confused as Kraken. Why would one have a master who is not as qualified as the “anchor captain”. After all the vessel is an anchor vessel so it seems logical to have the most qualified person be the master.It has been more than a few years since I set foot on an anchor vessel but the master then was a damn good anchor handler or else he would not be the master.
This has to be at the top of the “most absurd things I have ever heard” list. Defies established maritime law. Master in witness chair: “It’s ok the anchor captain had relieved me of command”. I just don’t see that working out so well. I call BS.
Again, let me reiterate, the person running the anchor is in charge, he may or may not be the master, but, he is the one with 10000 feet or more of wire and a 15 ton anchor hanging 2000 feet below the keel while the vessel is proceeding on a preset coarse set by the navigation. The person running that anchor is in charge and can override anyone on that vessel. Don’t know if you have ever worked on an anchor boat or just a dredge, lots of differences between the two.
Well whichever of the five captains is in charge this whole thing sounds fucked up and doomed to fail. This whole thing is heartbreaking with how it will affect the industry when they inevitably fuck it up.
[QUOTE=caldwell275;165802]Again, let me reiterate, the person running the anchor is in charge, he may or may not be the master, but, he is the one with 10000 feet or more of wire and a 15 ton anchor hanging 2000 feet below the keel while the vessel is proceeding on a preset coarse set by the navigation. The person running that anchor is in charge and can override anyone on that vessel. Don’t know if you have ever worked on an anchor boat or just a dredge, lots of differences between the two.[/QUOTE]
How much wire or how many tons or what kind of vessel has nothing to do with it. There are a lot of specialized vessels out there.
If the person with ultimate authority and the master are two different people then I don’t see how the vessel is in compliance with laws regardng authority and responsibility of the master.
Are you saying the “real” captain is not licensed by the USCG to command a vessle of that size?
[QUOTE=caldwell275;165802]Again, let me reiterate, the person running the anchor is in charge, he may or may not be the master, but, he is the one with 10000 feet or more of wire and a 15 ton anchor hanging 2000 feet below the keel while the vessel is proceeding on a preset coarse set by the navigation. The person running that anchor is in charge and can override anyone on that vessel. Don’t know if you have ever worked on an anchor boat or just a dredge, lots of differences between the two.[/QUOTE]
Never under any circumstances is anyone else other than the Master in charge of vessel at sea. Never.
Let me clarify. I am not trying to say you are wrong and that is not how it has been before or is now on some vessels. I have worked dredges, tugs and a variety of oilfield vessels engaged in OSV and specialty work. I have not worked on an anchor boat. I have worked with a few anchor yankers. I can appreciate what is involved. I am just saying that that is a fucked up situation. The Master is the only person who by law is the ultimate authority onboard and by law will be held ultimately accountable when the shit hits the fan. I would love to see the court case where the Master is not held accountable (at least significantly if not fully) for the actions of an “anchor captain” who is not the Master of the vessel. I would never even think of putting myself in that position as Master. The proper thing would be to learn the ropes of the operation starting with lower positions and not assume the duties of Master until you could do the “anchor captain” job. That is professionalism.
[QUOTE=Kennebec Captain;165809]How much wire or how many tons or what kind of vessel has nothing to do with it. There are a lot of specialized vessels out there.
If the person with ultimate authority and the master are two different people then I don’t see how the vessel is in compliance with laws regardng authority and responsibility of the master.
Are you saying the “real” captain is not licensed by the USCG to command a vessle of that size?[/QUOTE]
No KC I think what he is trying to say is the master of the vessel was chosen by the company to be the master regardless of his qualifications. Realizing this person may not have the proper experience the company put more experienced people in a position to do the important work. We all know how this will work out if there is a problem. But if the company chooses to put an unqualified person in a position of ultimate authority it is not for you, me or the USCG to say otherwise…until something happens. Shell is apparently happy with this so who are we to question?
I wish them good luck.
[QUOTE=caldwell275;165802]The person running that anchor is in charge and can override anyone on that vessel.[/QUOTE]
While I don’t know what the company or client would say on the matter, legally that’s totally and completely bullshit (and the company’s out clients opinions don’t change this fact). The master is in charge at all times and the helmsman cannot override him simply because he has anchors on the line.
Now normal operations may be that the person in the chair runs the show and if he isn’t the most senior person on the bridge then that said senior person allows him to, but nothing about running anchors overrules the normal chain of command.
[QUOTE=caldwell275;165794]They did, they pulled the masters off of two of their large AHTS’s so that they could get their 3rd mate unlimited, I worked with two of the captains and they are exceptional anchor captains.[/QUOTE]
They don’t need to pull anyone off their boat to get them a 3rd mate. Those guys could have Chief Mate licenses from sailing on a large AHTS if either they or the company actually cared (it requires taking a bunch of really hard tests and you can’t teach old dogs new tricks). I expect the company only cared about them having the minimum level unlimited license so they could be there as “anchor captains”.
This whole Captain, anchor Captain sounds like somebody doesn’t understand the difference of who has the “deck” and who has the “conn” on a military vessel. While I was in while the Capt. was on the bridge he could have the “deck” and the XO could have the “Conn” but the master had overriding authority. The Capt could also have the deck and the conn. All it meant was the guy with the conn was actually handling the vessel. He may be giving orders and people will follow them but as soon as the Capt wanted he could immediately relieve the conning officer of his duties. Just one Capt on the boat and one Capt in the court room…
Shouldn’t this “Anchor Captain”, be called an “Anchor Mate”. In the same way you might have a “Watch standing Mate” or a “Daywork Mate”. Hell the guy’s even sailing on a 3/m license and that’s what it sounds like he’s officially listed as. Normally when a Mate is on a navigational watch he’s the one in charge of the vessel, with the captain being overall responsible. I don’t see how this is different.