Part 2 of Certifiacte of Competency –

Case Study: Lessons from the El Faro Incident

Consider the case study of the sad incident of the El Faro, a 280m containership which succumbed to hurricane Joaquin and sank with all 33 seafarers onboard. Reading the transcript of the bridge VDR recording is disturbing. It shows that the ‘text book’ signs of an approaching TRS were there. The forecast was correct and the deck officers recognised the danger they were heading into. But nobody intervened with any effect. Nobody seemed to have the confidence to challenge the master’s decision on course setting.

Why Not?

No-one was empowered enough by knowledge (or indeed the right experience) to do so. Even following basic TRS avoidance would have taken the vessel away from the eye. Albeit by altering course away significantly from the passage plan and would have saved the day.

Knowing just the text book action may have worked, but ultimately being able to fully analyse from a position of knowledge above that required as minimum MAY have empowered someone to intervene. Of course this is circumstantial and assisted by hindsight, but nonetheless it goes some way to justify having knowledge above the minimum and using this attribute to challenge decisions – regardless of who makes them. The autocratic master of that vessel made this difficult but it’s a great cliche that one day may work.

Conclusion

So to summarise, what lessons can we learn from the El faro incident? 

When choosing a tutor, a college, a mentor or even a book, consider what you are achieving. Are you studying to just make the grade or do you want to empower yourself with more than just a minimum standard qualification? An experienced, learned and confident teacher will always give you more than needed, or perceived to be needed , delivered through experience of their own.

I have always striven to provide this, my students tend to agree and eventually thank me for it. Aiming:

• To asimulate as much knoweldge as possible
• Studying above the minimum
• Learning from an expert, experienced  teacher

Provides valuable value added detail and information.

At the end of the day having a paper (or plastic as it is now!) CoC should make you a safe officer, Knowledge  makes  you a good officer.