foggy foggy doings.......

[fisherman]

Just as a matter of interest; a channel pilot told me he has been on the bridge of a ship, in fog so he could not see half the deck, in a 1.5 nm wide traffic lane in the Dover straits doing 15 knots with four other ships abreast of him.

"You know captain, we really should slow down".

"Yes pilot, but if we do we miss our slot in Rotterdam, and neither you nor I will be on one of this company's ships again."

 

[Talbot]

I have been the watch officer while doing 28 kts in zero visibility through the middle of a fishing fleet. Just to make it more interesting we were chasing another ship, and we were totally unable to go astern. Did make the heart pound a bit.

BTW when I say zero vis, I mean that we were unable to see the end of the focsle (abt 100ft).

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Not that I blame you guys... company pressure fully understood.... but its OK until someone gets run down, and then its the skipper that gets shot, forgetting the 'need to make the slot'..... the employer is the guilty party here...... sad isn't it.....

 

[Guest]

Commercial pressures always there

Company's always say officially that Master has every right to slow down and proceed at safe speed or even "hole-up" till safe to proceed.
Unofficially he better have a damn good excuse and good verbal skills.

Commercial pressure to make a slot is not correct as it's only Ferry's and Scheduled Liners that have "slots". All other vessels are always revising ETA's - that is why they have the 72, 48, 36, 24 and 12 hr messages.
What does come into play is Chartered Speed clause and a vessel that doesn't make its speed average on voyage can be seriously penalised. Of course arrival and discharge / load of cargo is important to get done as quickly as possible - a ship only earns when its carrying cargo.
The other point that affects a vessels earnings is Laycan / days.... that is the time allocated to be laid alongside engaged in cargo. This is set by charter and a vessel has to be on station at or before that start time / date. Normally a charter will be set that there is a small margin so that vessel can make its eta without too much hassle. Occasionally it is mis-set and then you get trouble.

I would guess that there was a lot more behind the story than just a Master remarking to a Pilot. BUt yes it is common that ships do not slow down as much as some may consider necessary.

It is also interesting to note that the IRPCS actually distinguish between vessels with radar and those without .... that a Vessel with Radar working may consider a higher speed in reduced viz than a vessel without .... if you look through you will find it, can't remember the rule number now ... I understand it's just bad wording - but I also feel it is wrong.

 

[Talbot]

warship chasing a gunboat in last cod war! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif At least it meant that the fishing boats werent upset with us!

 

[Cornishman]

After having to take avoiding action from a cross channel ferry which was making NO sound signals I took the opportunity to quiz a P&O student on a master's course at Plymouth why not.
The answer was because the passengers don't like it and would sail with another company. That was in the 1980s, so does this still apply?

 

[fisherman]

Re: Commercial pressures always there

I think the 'slot' was more to do with tide.
When a student at a Dutch MN academy said he'd been told not to give way to FVs, the same pilot said "Oh, they're not starting that again!"