So how can a shipping company mini-
mise the risk of their vessels colliding or
running aground?
First, the company has to recognise
that this is a substantial risk, and that
the company can influence it. It is not
enough hiring a crew with the correct
certificates and having an approved
Safety Management System; there needs
to be a company culture that states that
these are our values and that ensures
that all employees are trained to know
what is expected of them.
One of the main problems is that
the Safety Management System is
often ignored and that technology and
instruments provided are not utilised.
The interesting question is how can this
be allowed?
In a couple of cases the captain did
visit the bridge when the vessel was
in restricted visibility, maintaining full
speed and had no designated lookout.
Why was no concern raised? How could
this be acceptable when it clearly states
in the Safety Management System that
a designated lookout has to be posted
and that the captain should be on the
bridge at all times during restricted
visibility. In other cases the captain
has entered and left the bridge dur-
ing manoeuvring and obviously did not
have full situational awareness