Lookout! – issue 14, September 2009

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The crew of three had fished through the previous night and most of that day when a hydraulic winch control failure forced them to head back to port for repairs. With about 2 hours of the return journey left to run, the skipper gave orders for the two crewmembers to take an hour’s watch each, and to wake him when the vessel was about half an hour outside the bar.

A fishing vessel was a total loss after grounding while
the crew slept.

The first watchkeeper stood watch without incident, and decided to extend his watch to allow the second crewmember a little more rest.

When the vessel was about 40 minutes from the waypoint where the skipper was to be woken, the watchkeeper went below and told the second crewmember that it was his turn to take over the watch. The second crewmember agreed, and the first watchkeeper headed to his bunk in the forecastle and went to sleep.

However, the second crewmember did not get up, and the vessel grounded on the beach about an hour later. Unable to free her from the beach under her own power, the skipper and both crew stepped onto the beach and walked up the beach to safety. The vessel broke up on the beach and was considered a total loss.

More information and resources on fatigue

Fatigue management – reducing the risks

LOOKOUT! POINTS

1. This is an example of very poor watchkeeping practice. The first watchkeeper should not have considered himself relieved of his watch until his replacement was awake, alert and standing in the wheelhouse.
   
   Fatigue is a real threat faced by the fishing industry, and crew can appear to respond to wake-up calls without being fully awake. A replacement watchkeeper must not
   only be present, but in a fit state to do the job before you can relinquish your watch.
2. The vessel was not fitted with stand-alone watchkeeping alarms. Such a device is a useful back-up to support proper watchkeeping procedures, and would probably have saved this vessel.

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