It seems that the maritime industry has not learnt anything even when incidents such as that of the Hebei Spirit in Korea, the Pratibha Cauvery in India or the Prestige off the coast of Spain. In each situation the Master and the crew were left in a state beyond their control. In the recent Pratibha Cauvery case, the crew were left unattended for days, without provisions or pay until finally she grounded under stormy conditions.