how can Colregs rule 5 - lookout - be met by solo sailors on long trips?

[dunedin]

Submarine fwd watch keeping routine is 6/6. And certain jobs (Navs and Ops Officer amongst them) have significant amounts of work to do in off watch - generally on an SSN Ops officer can't leave the control room during their on watch, so lots of planning/meetings off watch. Dog tired most of the time after a week or so out.

In which case seems a pretty stupid way to run a navy, with such safety critical roles. Why don’t the senior commanders and above sort the system?

 

[billskip]

I became convinced that I could see land -

Exactly that happened to me, I was sailing
From Lagos Portugal to Maderia

 

[arc1]

In which case seems a pretty stupid way to run a navy, with such safety critical roles. Why don’t the senior commanders and above sort the system?

Space - never served on an Astute but previous SSN didnt have enough bunks as it was, without adding a third watch. Even if that problem solved then not enough people to properly fill current complement.

 

[ylop]

O coasters we worked a six on six off and normally after one watch off we seemed well rested although the watch ending at six in the morning was sometimes difficult to stay awake.In bad vis or lots of traffic both skipper and mate would be on watch.

Does that mean in prolonged bad weather the captain could be on watch for a very long time?

 

[obmij]

O coasters we worked a six on six off and normally after one watch off we seemed well rested although the watch ending at six in the morning was sometimes difficult to stay awake.In bad vis or lots of traffic both skipper and mate would be on watch.

You must have a stronger constitution than me. 6/6 near coastal for an extended period of time makes me physically sick. In fact I have stopped doing it altogether. I will do 8/4 and 12/12 but not 6/6

By contrast I would happily do a long voyage in a sailing boat 2 up or even single handed - in fact I intend to start doing so again. You can get extremely tired but ultimately you're just sailing a boat. A spot of nav, trim the sails a bit. Steer if it gets too windy.

Commercial 6/6 there always something to do and never enough time to do it. Five hours rest is an absolute best case scenario and when on watch there are cargo ops, planned and unplanned maintenance vast amounts of paperwork / reporting systems etc. It is literally an endless to do list and it almost impossible not to break the law if you want to stay within touching distance of it. I guess that's the cheapest way of operating so that's the way it is.

Submarines must be even worse as if you get it wrong the consequences could be..serious