MARITIME TRAINING AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE? BY LOUISE DEEHAN-OWEN, SENIOR LECTURER, NZ MARITIME SCHOOL A
s Maritime Lecturers, we are always challenging practices. We put much effort into instilling compliance behaviours and the development of a continuous improvement and deep seated safety culture. After reading the Editorial in last month's magazine on the sinking of the classic yacht Gypsy, I feel the need to add another view on this. It becomes difficult to talk with authenticity about compliance when we are faced with inconsistent messages from Maritime New Zealand. The lack of a published accident investigation into the Antaeus collision with the Gypsy is the most topical example and has damaged the credibility given to the investigation system. The weight given to this Rule in maritime education and any Maritime New Zealand Oral Exam situation is significant and not being able to demonstrate an understanding and make correct application is a 'Fail'. When reviewing published accident reports of the past that covered close quarters and collision, those of far lesser impact than this one have featured heavily. As is often pointed out by my students in the case of the Antaeus and the Gypsy: both vessels involved were recreational vessels, it was a serious harm accident, a vessel was lost, and it was in a well identified, predictable situation. As the rule applies to all vessels, I would hope that there were no allowances for the recreational nature of the accident. I have also heard many statements like, "If it was us, a commercial operator, we would be done!" I tend to agree. Yes, you would.
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I am finding it difficult to explain the disparity in the decision not to investigate and produce an accident report. There appears to be a loss of balance and equity with decision making at a shameful level.
Many of you will be thinking that I am gunning for prosecution, when really I want to see a robust investigation and an Accident Report published. Pragmatically, I feel that it may be too late now but I hope to be proven incorrect.
At the very least, in not producing a report, Maritime NZ are denying us the ability to learn from this accident and improve our own operations. An Accident Report enables us to walk in the shoes of the persons in the event and in doing so, hopefully take steps to reduce the likelihood of us repeating their history. Published accident reports are an excellent training tool. They can open us up to possibilities we had not considered and transform attitudes. They give us an insight as to how events unfold and how people have dealt with them. We can picture the contributing factors and walk the timeline of events. Most importantly, they prompt us to solve our own problems and help us prevent the same occurring. We improve through the shared experiences. Ultimately, the lack of an investigation and published accident report into the sinking of the Gypsy by the Antaeus paints neither a fair nor impartial picture. It unconsciously takes credence from the Collision Prevention Rule and sends a conflicting message. In itself, it is not an example of good practice.
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For a list of our 2012 courses or for more information, contact:
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November/December 2012 Professional Skipper 53
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