Obviously you have never been on a feeder container ship.
The vibration through the accommodation can be absolutely horrendous, sometimes this quietens out when at full speed but on others it is constant regardless of speed.
I was probably exaggerating a bit when I said you had to shout to be heard but I am not exaggerating to say that you have to raise your voice considerably. This must be wearing on the crew
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Sorry did not see the in between posts
I was lucky I did my time on a feeder ship in an area with not much traffic and while it wasn’t as cold some of the sea conditions were brutal. I was an exempt master calling at 6 ports, one of the ports with a dangerous bar and two hour pilotage and one other with a two and a half hour pilotage. We called at one port twice a week.
I was called at 03:30 for an arrival alongside at 06:00 after doing the 8 to 12.
The mate did the cargo planning and the second mate did his work plus the safety gear.
Chief Engineer and AE, 3 AB’s, Bosun and a cook.
The ship was geared and used it in all ports but one. The bosun was the helmsman (mud pilot) in pilotage waters.
She was mostly quiet at sea unless she was pitching heavily but in port cargo ops were
Very noisy.
Everyone was fatigued especially during the winter months but we were on 14 on 14 off not like those poor devils on the Solong.
For machinery noise in the accommodation nothing beats a diesel driven bow thruster onboard a UT804 anchor handler. One vessel had ear muff type earphones that hung from the deck head so you could hear the TV. Communication was by sign language.
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I know that’s not a current feature of ECDIS, but you may have stumbled on something that is a useful feature and technologically possible. Patent it.
In the first couple of minutes of the podcast there are some interesting comments re the topic discussed.
Stena Immaculate has been surrounded by 4 marker buoys, with several salvage vessel in attendance:
Solong is still attended by tugs and salvage vessel,
Multrasalvor 4, Multratug 35 & 36 on location. (Bottom right).
Thanks from someone who actually sailed on these ships, I didn’t just piloted them.
It’s as you say brutal, adding in the exempt ports .
I found it brutal on OSVs when I was exempt from several ports. We only did it for 6 weeks max.
Just so you know, I am well aware of the difference between autopilot and trackmode, but I am speaking to the general public.
It is the same reason everytime I say bow, I also say front. News agencies want people who can explain issues in ways that their viewers can understand in a set piece of time.
In my video, I discussed setting waypoints and having the system account for wind, set and drift.
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70 day time charter for the Defense Logistics Agency to transport fuel to Killinghome.
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Do you really know the difference, or did you just pick that up from a YouTube tutorial?
Are you currently working at sea? When was the last time you worked a vessel equipped with ECDIS? What CoC do you hold? Which recognized e-navigation courses have you completed? And let’s not forget—when and where did you last attend a mandatory ECDIS navigation simulator training?
But hey, maybe I’m wrong, and you’re the one who can clearly explain the difference between heading mode, course mode, and track mode? Because, to be honest, not everyone on this forum seems to understand it.
And while we’re at it, I already pointed out to you once that AIS is not an “Automatic Information System,” yet you keep repeating this mistake with strange persistence. It’s not just about terminology; there are well-documented cases where AIS data has been questioned. Yet, you keep basing your pseudo-analyses on it without a hint of skepticism.
At some point, I even defended your work here, arguing that you were doing a good job promoting general maritime knowledge online. But now? You’re dangerously close to crossing the line. It’s quite amusing, actually your analyses are now being quoted as credible even in this professional forums.
I’m not naive. I know how internet popularity can be monetized. But there are limits, and perhaps we should be mindful of not overstepping them. It’s fascinating how quickly the internet can turn someone into a self-proclaimed expert in any field, isn’t it?
That being said, let’s get back to the real issue but as Nautilus International has stated:
While details of the incident continue to emerge, Nautilus International urges both the public and media to refrain from speculation about the causes of yesterday’s allision and to allow the official investigation to run its proper course before drawing conclusions.
Nautilus stands united with seafarers and emergency crews after North Sea allision
Why do you believe that simply paying seafarers more would make them more responsible? Or are you suggesting that higher wages would attract more competent professionals for some critical positions?
What were the conditions of the studies you’re referring to? Can you share more detailed findings?
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I am a graduate of NY Maritime. I sailed with Military Sealift Command and worked aahore in their operations division for the afloat prepositioning force and chartering division. I held a 2nd Mate (Unlimited) and a 1600 ton Master (Limited).
During these events, I talk to a group of active sailing marinees who are alumni of my school and I get their perspective.
But my views are nit just on the navigation and operation of the ships but in their larger role in global shipping. For this, I obtained an MA and PhD in maritime and naval history and affairs. I have been an adjuct at the US Merchant Marine Academy since 2008 running a graduate class on Maritime Industry Policy for their engineering masters program.
This course and program also provides me with contacts throughout the industry to discuss issues with.
Listen, I am the first to admit I dont know anything and I am not actively sailing, but that does not mean I dont keep up with the profession and industry.
I am trying to get good information out so the news medias dont report crap but ealry in an incident all is not known. I do my best, but it will not be perfect as 100% is impossible.
Thanks, Sal
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I should also add that I come to this forum all the time to hear what you all have to say because you all raise great issues.
I am fine taking criticism and believe it or not, I am trying to give the industry that I have worked for and studied a voice.
It may not be perfect - I dont know why I keep getting the acroynm for AIS wrong (Information vs Identification 
) - but I do try my best.
Cheers!
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The only speculation that I have made in this discussion was that the OOW, who was likely the master, could of been impaired by fatigue.
As a one time master of a feeder container ship I base that speculation on my own experience.
The optimum distance from base to a rig in a PSV is a day and a half steaming. In two watches you get port time with two boats and regular rest periods.
It all goes tits up if you’re a single boat and a hour and a quarter from base. No one does any planning and you can make multiple port entries each required me on the bridge as exempt master each time.
Many years ago there used to be Time and Motion studies.
If one existed today I would like to see how they could reconcile the Gard handbook duties of master with the demands of a feeder ship master trading in European waters.
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Of course paying these guys more is not going to help. I was making the point that it is a God awful job and apart from being a young Master gaining experience I cannot think of a single good reason for doing the job
The survey you question was a good while ago and I don’t remember who instigated it but it was one of the Pilotage Associations EMPA IMPA or UKMPA .
Was just surprised as I was expecting the old beat up bulkers to com bottom, not these sleek looking feeders.
“Impaired by fatigue” as in fell sound asleep probably. You would have to be pretty addled to not notice that tanker.
not much immaculate could of done regarding moving !!
SOURCE: Guide to the collision avoidance rules. A N Cockroft. 6th. ed
When the machine becomes your MASTER you reach disaster faster.
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Actually, it was an allision so the rules don’t apply.
Has there been any news on the missing seafarer?
i would be interested to know what rank he was.
Name the " authority " except You of course who said that.
Quotes, links , references will do .
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