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Masters Must be
Prepared to Question Pilots In the
latest issue of its StopLoss Bulletin, the Club, while recognising the
practical difficulties and sensitivities that may arise, says the incidents
serve as reminders of the importance of masters being ready to question pilots
in cases where the manoeuvres being undertaken appear not to be progressing as
planned or expected and if they appear to be creating risk of an accident. It adds,
"This is particularly so since reports suggest that, in more than one of
the cases, although the masters were uncomfortable with the pilots' proposed
manoeuvres, concerns were not raised until the casualties had become
inevitable. The large claims that arose in these cases may well have been
avoided had the masters intervened at an earlier stage." Although
concerned about the unduly large number of accidents involving pilots and the
absence of regulation of the profession that shipowners themselves face and
readily comply with, the Club acknowledges that the vast majority play a very
positive role in contributing to safe navigation. Elsewhere
in StopLoss, the Club reports a 'near miss' in which a collision between a bulk
carrier entered with the Club and a passenger ferry in the US was avoided only
as a result of the very prompt actions taken by the master and pilot of the
bulker. The bulker was proceeding under The Club
says the incident emphasises the need for very close co-operation and vigilance
on the bridges of ships navigating in heavy traffic areas. JALESVEVA YAYAMAHE
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