Baggy trousers blamed for grounding

[Cornishman]

The MAIB report into the grounding of the RMS Mulheim near to Land's End blames the baggy trousers worn by the Mate while alone on watch.
Nearing her first waypoint where a change of course was ordered he tried to get out of his chair to check the GPS position. His trouser leg caught the footplate control lever and he fell, knocking himself out. By the time he regained consciousness the ship had missed her course change and was closing the shore.
She hit the rocky shore below cliffs and much of her cargo of shredded car plastic was strewn over nearby beaches and the ship left to break up.
Is there a lesson to be learned here? Should we always have more than one person on watch? Should baggy trousers be banned?

Wreckin' don't always bring in profits!!

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[zefender]

Ooh I see it now - thousands of skippers forced to wear loud and very tight lycra on every passage!

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[Twister_Ken]

For those who remember the old joke.

"Oh congratulations my Lord, shall I call her Ladyship?"

"No, no Jenkins. Bring me m' baggy trousers. I'll smuggle this one down to the village."

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[trev]

Several years ago a watch system known as OMBO (One Man Bridge Operation) was introduced and approved on merchant ships - OMBO is known 'in the trade' as On My Bloody Own! and is at least partly responsible for the increase in marine incidents especially in small vessels, which now carry minimal crew.
If this vessel had been properly manned there would have been a seaman on watch with the mate, and the accident would possibly never have happened.- provided, of course , at least one of them was wearing sensible trousers.


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[Mirelle]

Guilty man owns up!

I was responsible for building a class of 740 teu containerships with OMBO arrangements in the years 1989-91. They do not operate in that mode now because the Flag State (Hong Kong) banned it after one went aground when the watchkeeper fell asleep.

However, in that case the dead man' s handle had been disarmed.

We certainly did NOT provide chairs on the bridge, though! Asking for trouble!

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[Evadne]

Ah!

A case for Wallace and Gromit, "The wrong trousers" perhaps?

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[chas]

simple answer - cycle clips!

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