[Rockingham]

My father, a Kings Point graduate who was both a naval officer and a merchant mariner before taking up law, was appalled at the Fitzgerald collision and loss of life. Intuitively, his explanation was that the officer on deck was not paying sufficient attention. At night, in congested waterways, it does not take much of a mistake to get into serious trouble, and my father's experience was that, credentials and rank aside, some people lacked the innate sense of diligence and care that being the officer in charge of a ship requires. No wonder then that the name of the OOD is suppressed by the Navy. He likely has a record of irresponsibility and mistakes that would implicate the entire chain of command and the personnel system in putting an unsuitable officer in charge of a ship's navigation at night.

[Sequoyah101]

To your point, I have seen what were supposed to be reasonably intelligent and supposedly qualified people simply drive an operation onto the rocks and not exhibit a single shred of remorse or alarm. They apparently just don’t understand or care about the cascade of horrible events that can follow their failures.

Secondly, that the identity of the real person responsible for this collision or that of the McCain has not already been leaked out is a testimony to intimidation of the very impressionable youngsters of the crews. The OOD will be known to those who pay attention.

[beebuster2000]

that rings true. i used to race dinghies right off the kings point academy. Weatherly used to be moored there.