200061 Lookout - What Lookout?

Lookout - What Lookout?
Report No. 200061

Situation: Proceeding on South Westerly course in North Sea, vicinity of Hinder Junction. Ship - 50,000GT, draught 8.5 metres, speed 19 knots. Daytime, clear visibility, moderate traffic concentration.

The following conversation takes place on the bridge.

2nd Mate (OOW): Will you excuse me Pilot, I have to send my messages? So I will be behind the desk in the Radio section so I can't see out.

Deep Sea Pilot: How long will this take?

2nd Mate: About 40 minutes. I have to send the daily reports to the owners, charterers, Ocean Routes etc. It is my job to do this now that we have no Radio Officer. I get paid an extra $47 a month!

Pilot: So if I wasn't here, there would just be an AB on the bridge to keep lookout.

2nd Mate: Oh no, sir! We don't ever have an AB on the bridge when we are at sea; they are too busy working on maintenance jobs. With so few people on board, we just can't spare anyone!

The ship in question is about one year old. It is issued with a "Safe Manning Certificate" by its FOC administration. All certificates and ISM are in order, and enough "check lists" had been completed prior to sailing to fill a municipal library.