[image] USNS Alan Shepard ran aground in Bahrain after captain left bridge to eat,... The decision by the master of the USNS Alan Shepard to leave the bridge and place a junior officer in charge was one of the key reasons for the ship’s grounding, according to a summary of an investigati…

It’s not as if he got too close to the edge of the channel, which might mitigate his error somewhat but it’s more difficult to justify his making a 90 degree turn right out of the channel into a depicted shoal.

Not trying to justify it. Clearly the third mate made a preventable error As captain the goal is not to have someone to blame but to not run aground in the first place. Having the ECDIS set up properly will reduce the risk of grounding. Doesn’t look like the ship was in a channel at the time. […

The screen shot shows them having left a buoy to starboard. I’ve been in those waters but too long ago to identify this area.

Been there many times but like you my memory is a little hazy. From the chartlet they were passing though an anchorage. In the Swiss Cheese Model, keeping an extra officer in the wheelhouse and properly setting up the ECDIS act as additional layers of defense, reducing the overall risk of error.

[image] Kennebec_Captain: The watch mate shouldn’t have to do any calculations By calculations, I meant “my draft 7.2 meters, and the chart says that area is 7, is there enough water over there?” Its more 2nd grade math than a calculation. Although, it does get confusing when ENCs have their…

I agree, ECDIS limited assist in this situation. Each ‘layer’ has to be evaluated. For a green 3rd mate I’d want the full set-up, track-line to follow with XTE, good contours, clear instructions on when to call etc. Does seem odd in hindsight all three officers would march off to have a meal toge…

Many of the shiphandling courses and simulator instructors in the US will try to scare you with sailing/fishing vessels into running your own ship aground. Sounds like the 3rd Mate fell into this trap.

The stupidest guys I know from school are all career MSC officers. Not that I blame them for taking advantage of an organization that refuses to fire anyone.

Doubt they will get rid of the Master, they need the people.

USNS Alan Shepard ran aground in Bahrain after captain left bridge to eat,

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USNS Alan Shepard ran aground in Bahrain after captain left bridge to eat,

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