Perhaps. Or perhaps not. There is a problem with “free will”. Humans, are gifted/cursed with it. I’m going to switch gears a bit, and offer two examples of “cursed free will”.
- EVANS/MELBOURNE collision: OOD/JOOD did not call the captain as required by his night orders when the formation course changed. They knew of the order to call, but chose not to.
- FITZ/ACX CRYSTAL collision: OOD/JOOD did not call the captain, as required by his night orders, when unable to achieve desired CPA with several vessels just prior to the collision. (Same as #1, they knew but chose not to call)
BRM can be pounded into us, but if it’s not implemented routinely. . .it’s just another feel-good course that’s required. Documenting training on a spreadsheet doesn’t help, except for the pin-heads in the office. And BRM really does not address a circumstance when the master is called about imminent danger, and doesn’t come to the wheelhouse.