In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB references a case in which a distracted officer of the watch, engrossed in a tablet, failed to maintain a proper lookout, leading to a collision between a cargo ship and a dredge spoil barge.
A general cargo ship was on passage at night with the officer of the watch (OOW) as the sole lookout. The vessel was overtaking a powered dredge spoil barge in a traffic separation scheme (TSS) and was passing clear on its port side. The dredge spoil barge also had a single watchkeeper on the bridge.
The cargo ship’s OOW was sitting in a chair, focused on using a tablet computer rather than navigation and keeping a lookout. As the cargo ship approached a waypoint the OOW changed course onto the new track without checking visually or using the radar, putting the ship on a collision course with the dredge spoil barge.
Neither of the watchkeepers saw or recognised the new danger and the cargo ship and dredge spoil barge subsequently collided. The force of the collision overturned the dredge spoil barge and its two crew did not survive.
Lessons learned
Margin of safety → The presence of a second person to act as a dedicated lookout during hours of darkness is a requirement, not an option. While the OOW is attending to other navigational duties the role of lookout is invaluable to look for hazards and, in line with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended (STCW Convention), no other duties shall be undertaken or assigned which could interfere with the task. In this case, a dedicated lookout posted on either vessel might have spotted the developing situation and taken action to prevent the collision.
Risk → Several activities that take place on the bridge are likely to divert attention and it is important to prioritise these in line with the level of risk. For example, replacing a printer cartridge when the ship is approaching a waypoint close to shore should be avoided. It is therefore certain that watching a tablet computer while in a TSS and altering course onto a new track is asking for trouble.
