200344 Don't Blame The Cook

Don't Blame The Cook
Report No. 200344

When trying to find the cause of an accident or the reason for a failure on board as a Master or as a Manager I have often been told by the person in charge that he or she had told someone to do something and that person had failed to do it.

Once, after a galley fire, I asked the cause and was told by the Master that he had told the Cook to clean the exhaust ventilator hood and that it had not been done. The Master also added a recommendation that the Cook be discharged for failing to carry out an order.

Persons who give orders have been given responsible positions because of their perceived ability to lead, give directions and have their instructions carried out. Anyone can give orders; babies are very good at it and they are good at having their orders carried out. They keep crying until their mothers feed them or change them.

Masters, Chief Engineers and others who instinctively blame their juniors when an accident or a failure takes place are not effective even if the juniors are to blame. They remind me of a brat who tells his mother, "It wasn't me Mum, it was Billy." I have seen the same blame game played when two ships are involved in a ship to ship cargo transfer. The other ship is always to blame for an accident. Likewise, when several ships are close together and an oil spill occurs, it always comes from the other ship.

When a ship broke away from a dock in Portland, Oregon, it was found that her ropes had been too slack An investigator asking the Third Mate who had been on duty why this had happened was told," I told the A.B..."

Perhaps at age 75, I am suffering from a generation gap but it does seem that this blame game at sea and the failure of officers to ensure that their orders are carried out is more prevalent now than it was 30 or 40 years ago. Orders often seem to be given in a slovenly and gabbled manner. Sometimes they are not repeated back. There is little wonder we have communication gaps even with native English speakers when "Copy", "0. K." and "Roger" responses are given to detailed instructions.

Of course the blame game is by no means confined to ships. Ship Managers are good at it, and most other industries and the armed forces are plagued by it. Politicians are expert at the game and lawyers make a living out of it.

Self respecting seafarers should shun it!!