Q: On Crystal Stream, the wheelhouse watch alarm was not connected to the autopilot and was not operating at the time of the grounding. What if, as a deckhand, you noticed during your time on board that the watch alarm never seemed to sound, or that the skipper routinely silenced it without it requiring a fresh acknowledgement?

Recognise it as a serious gap and raise it — a watch alarm that doesn't sound, or that can be silenced without genuinely waking the watchkeeper, provides no protection at all if the sole watchkeeper becomes incapacitated A watch alarm exists specifically to catch the scenario that happened on Crystal Stream: a lone watchkeeper falls asleep, and a system independent of that person's own awareness raises the alert. MGN 313 (F) recommends integrating the watch alarm with the autopilot on fishing vessels for exactly this reason. An alarm that isn't connected, isn't operating, or can be silenced without genuinely confirming the watchkeeper is awake and alert is "a switch that happens to be in the wheelhouse" — not a safety system, and a gap worth raising before it matters.

Question 1

On Crystal Stream, the wheelhouse watch alarm was not connected to the autopilot and was not operating at the time of the grounding. What if, as a deckhand, you noticed during your time on board that the watch alarm never seemed to sound, or that the skipper routinely silenced it without it requiring a fresh acknowledgement?

Accepted Answer

Recognise it as a serious gap and raise it &mdash; a watch alarm that doesn't sound, or that can be silenced without genuinely waking the watchkeeper, provides no protection at all if the sole watchkeeper becomes incapacitated A watch alarm exists specifically to catch the scenario that happened on Crystal Stream: a lone watchkeeper falls asleep, and a system independent of that person's own awareness raises the alert. MGN 313 (F) recommends integrating the watch alarm with the autopilot on fishing vessels for exactly this reason. An alarm that isn't connected, isn't operating, or can be silenced without genuinely confirming the watchkeeper is awake and alert is "a switch that happens to be in the wheelhouse" &mdash; not a safety system, and a gap worth raising before it matters.

Question 2

You're asked to test a deck crane grab after electrical repairs nearby. As the grab is hoisted, what should have happened first?

Accepted Answer

The area within the grab's swing radius should be cleared of personnel before the lift On the bulk carrier Fairfield Eagle, a crew member working nearby was struck and fatally injured when a grab being test-lifted after repairs swung unexpectedly. The investigation found the area should have been cleared and barriered before the test lift began.

Question 3

A toolbox talk held before a lifting operation should explicitly cover which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Who must remain clear of the exclusion zone while the lift takes place A toolbox talk exists to make sure everyone present understands the danger zones, the abort signal, and — critically — who must not be in the area while the lift happens. The RMIMA investigation into the Fairfield Eagle fatality found the toolbox talk had not made this clear.