[QUOTE=“DeckApe;104891”]
The NTSB report disagrees. It cites the fact that the AB was, “superior to the officer on watch in knowledge, experience, and skill” as a cause of the accident. But what do they know?[/QUOTE]
In my experience that is rare among ABs. Except on a blue water ship an AB doesn’t normally stand a bridge watch so learns nothing about running a boat. Knowing how to chip, paint, clean, and watch TV doesn’t equate to navigating or avoiding collisions.
When I was on tugs my deckhand rode in the wheelhouse with me and learned the river and eventually how to drive the boat but that wasn’t the norm, I just had extra motivated deckhands. Plus, if I was alone I got bored so I asked them to be there…