Question 1

Laureline's RCOM allowed the duty officer to monitor vehicle deck operations from the cargo control room (CCR) using CCTV, provided they took frequent rounds of the decks. The MAIB found this arrangement was inadequate on the day of the accident. What was identified as the key limitation of the CCTV-based monitoring approach?

Accepted Answer

The garage deck camera's field of view was blocked as soon as a trailer was stowed in front of it, leaving the working area unseen The investigation found that the garage deck CCTV camera's field of view was obstructed as soon as a trailer was stowed in front of it — meaning the areas where crew were working were not visible from the CCR. Combined with the First Officer's focus on ballast and trim operations, CCTV monitoring provided no meaningful oversight of the garage deck where the accident occurred.

Question 2

Under the ISM Code and as reinforced in Gard's guidance to Members, the Master's overriding authority to make decisions for the safety of the ship and protection of the environment can be overruled by a commercial instruction from the company, such as a charterer's order to sail on schedule.

Accepted Answer

False False. Gard's guidance to Members consistently stresses that the ISM Code (element 5) gives the Master overriding authority and responsibility for safety and pollution prevention decisions — and that companies must ensure this authority is not undermined by commercial pressure. A charterer's or owner's commercial instruction never overrides the Master's safety judgement; Masters who feel pressured are advised to record their decision and reasoning and report it to the company and, where relevant, to their P&I correspondent.

Question 3

A crew member identifies that a piece of safety equipment does not match what is listed on the safety equipment plan. What is the correct way to handle this under the SMS?

Accepted Answer

Raise it as a non-conformity/observation through the SMS reporting process so it is recorded, investigated, corrected, and — if it reflects a wider issue — used to improve procedures or the safety equipment plan itself The ISM Code requires a system for reporting non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences so they can be analysed and corrective/preventive action taken — quietly fixing an issue without recording it loses this opportunity for systemic improvement.