Merchant ships underway have different capabilities at different times. When running at night with just a new third mate and AB in the wheelhouse the ship has far less capabilities then when the master and mate are in the wheelhouse, lookout on the bow, engine room manned and so forth. An important part of voyage planning is making sure the manning is appropriate for the situation.
Same thing with the Navy ships, with the McCain and Fitzgerald the bridge watch was insufficient for the circumstances.
The Fitzgerald didn’t take into account crossing that heavy coastwise traffic lane off Japan. Looks like a similar situation with the Helga Ingstad. Seems like it might have been more prudent to lay down the track further away from the tanker terminal. Or alternatively had a more robust watch.
Likely none of the watches for routine watches at sea would have much more expertise in traffic then a merchant ship with the third mate on watch.