99018 Ignoring Communications and Navigation Aids

Ignoring Communications and Navigational Aids
Report No. 99018

Prior to a river pilot disembarking, the deep sea pilot had set up the ARPA radar to track traffic in the vicinity. At the time it was daylight with good visibility and there was only a moderate amount of traffic around. As soon as the river pilot disembarked, the master turned off both radars. When the deep sea pilot asked him why, he replied that the AB was taking the flag down. On another occasion, after the river pilot had disembarked, the same vessel was departing port and with visibility of about 50 metres. The master rang full ahead, turned off the VHF transceivers, the echo sounder and one of the two radars. When asked why by the deep sea pilot he said he was saving energy. I have also heard from several deep sea pilots that some ships are turning off their DSC VHF sets when they are in the English Channel and North Sea.