Decision to Put Inexperienced Crewmember on Watch Root Cause of Grounding

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At Tuesday’s public hearing on the grounding of Empress of The North on May 14, 2007 the NTSB laid the blame for the incident squarely on an inexperienced, newly licensed junior Third Mate and the decion by the ship’s Master to put that crewmember on watch.

According to the NTSB’s report on the incident, the illness of a senior Third Mate was why the ship’s Master elected to replace the experienced Third Mate with the new junior Third Mate, who held an unlimited, any-ocean third officer’s license but had never stood watch on the vessel or traveled the waters of Lynn Canal. The third mate was not familiar with the route, the vessel’s handling characteristics or the bridge equipment.

The NTSB said the master had enough time to consider the watch assignment but investigators found no evidence he examined other options.

In addition, the NTSB recommended that state and U.S. maritime academies use the circumstances of the accident to teach students about their responsibilities as newly licensed officers and advised the Passenger Vessel Association to inform members about the incident.

The ship was carrying 206 passengers and 75 crew. Passengers and non-essential crew were safely evacuated. Empress of the North sustained damage to its starboard underside and propulsion system. Investigators said 52.5m tons of steel were used in repairs.