Posted on 05/18/2024 7:43:35 AM PDT by DFG
A Navy supply ship was run aground by a junior officer off the coast of Bahrain shortly after the ship's master -- or captain -- left the bridge to eat dinner, an investigation revealed.
The USNS Alan Shepard had finished up a maintenance period on July 15 and was on the way to a port in Bahrain when she was directed to an area just off shore to wait on a pilot. The master took the ship there and then went to eat dinner, leaving the ship in the hands of a much more junior third officer.
Less than 30 minutes later, the Alan Shepard was grounded on a shoal.
The investigative summary that was provided to Military.com found that after the ship's master -- as well as the navigator and the chief mate -- left to eat, the ship's third officer "became distracted by a fishing vessel" and tried turning the Alan Shepard to avoid it.
However, the officer, who was not identified in the summary, "was not cognizant of the ship's position in relation to the shoals and shallow water while he was maneuvering the vessel."
It wouldn't be until the next day when, helped by rising tide and tugs, the ship would be freed from the sand.
The investigation noted that the Alan Shepard's standing orders dictate "the master will be on the bridge" when the ship is in shallow water. It cited the failure of the ship's top officers to follow their own rules as one of the factors that led to the incident.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
Yes ... part of the Navy, but operated by civil service rather than military personnel.
“Lets get a look at the Jr. Officer left in charge; probably an Annopolis grad and WOKE.”
I stand corrected, although it is involved with the USN, it has a civilian crew, but that doesn’t rule out Merchant Marine Academy officers does it?
Is that like the Golden Rule? “He has the gold rules”
Not.
The fault always lies with the Commanding Officer.
“The US Naval Academy and the US Navy do not teach or enforce ship handling skills and discipline as well as merchant marine academies and merchant ship owners.”
This was a civilian crew.
> Well, there’s soon to be three jobs opening up. <
In the old days, yes. But if the responsible people on the ship were diversity hires, they will be awarded medals instead.
After all, they saved the ship from sinking after it was attacked by a sand shoal.
“Lets get a look at the Jr. Officer left in charge; probably an Annopolis grad and WOKE.”
Civilian.
Coast Guard
Yes—He who displaces the least skeedaddles or gets swamped!
From Wikipedia:
“United States Naval Ships are unarmed auxiliary support vessels owned by the U.S. Navy and operated in non-commissioned service by Military Sealift Command with a civilian crew. Some ships include a small military complement to carry out communication and special mission functions, or for force protection.[2]”
He gone!
Yes, the Military Sealift Command includes many graduates of Merchant Marine academies.
Unlike civilian jobs, a Naval Captain is always at fault no matter if the Captain’s on the bridge or asleep.
Yep. Exactly...
LOL, it’s a running joke, on Free Republic, that people comment on the headline and didn’t read the article. LOL.
It’s always the Captain’s fault when a ship runs aground. I would bet he is already or soon will be relieved. It’s historically been a career killer.
I think these officers were not US Navy but Merchant Marine officers since it was a USNS. Still doesn’t make anything better, just clarifies.
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