Near misses in Channel - BBC web site

[gtmoore]

Quite a good piece here by a Channel pilot regarding near misses

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2638729.stm>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2638729.stm</A>

Gavin

 

[cngarrod]

Good article... bit worrying though!

Cheers,

C

 

[Equinox]

I think you will find that any competent person working at sea will not at all be surprised at the collisions that have taken place recently in the Channel. As a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy I have safely navigated my way through this stretch of water many times on various types of ships and it is true that over the years standards of watchkeeping have definitely plummeted.

Watchkeeping 'officers' on many ships fail to appreciate the necessity of keeping a good lookout, maintaining a safe speed and taking early action in ample time. Professional standards at sea are appalling and this situation has in part been brought about by the International Maritime Organisation placing countries on its White List which are clearly not capable of training their seafarers to a safe and acceptable standard.

It is unfortunate that due to selective reporting the media only choose to report maritime disasters that involve pollution and not loss of life (unless passengers are involved). Thankfully no seafarers lives have been lost in the trio of collisions. If shipowners and operators choose to employ the cheapest crews available and neglect their moral responsibilities then they deserve to lose their ships. Unfortunately it is the seafarers and the environment that will pay the ultimate price !!!