I guess radar is too high tech.
Lots of metal at close quarters just presents a screen wide white blob. No doubt, it could be seen on radar at longer ranges - 12 miles if not a lot further, but lack of proper watch meant no one saw it. So all the tech in the world, including the standard eyeball, is useless if no one uses it. Which comes back to training and motivation.
Radar is a tool like any other. If you don’t use the tool correctly, you won’t get the intended results.
Naval watchstanding is overly structured (some people think too much so, as one civilian captain on FR commented) but I believe it is necessary to a warship (due to the possibility and procedure/functionality degradation due to casualties, etc.) and that is what all the other stuff relates to:
• Failure to execute basic watchstanding practices.
• Failure to adhere to sound navigation practices.
• Failure to properly use available navigation tools.
• Failure to respond deliberately and effectively when in extremis.
This is all a failure of training and execution of the use of radar, but is also a failure of training and execution of communication processes and bridge protocols as well.
I wouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.
They could not link it to their iPhag smartphones?