Safety Articles
Valuable lessons are being drawn from a recent case of an almost tragic event onboard a superyacht. As part of a revealing study by CHIRP Maritime’s Superyacht Feedback program, the incident reinforces the indispensable importance of robust safety measures, specialist crew training, and health management aboard any seaworthy vessel.
Having overworked and frequently bypassing the required rest hours prior to the incident, fatigue had been a spreading scourge among the deck crew. The incident involved a deckhand, new to the vessel, lacking ample experience with anchoring procedures. Amid a rushed attempt to anchor the vessel, the deckhand misinterpreted the anchor chain markings, erring on the length of the chain that had been deployed.
Regulatory and legal compliance stand as the industry’s sturdiest anchors. Rules, norms, and laws sculpt professional standards, secure the safety nets, and avert untoward incidents within the industry. These guidelines illuminate the path for the industry, navigating it right from candidate selection and education, to the day-to-day management, safety measures, and the ultimate design quality of a boat.
Each segment of the maritime profession feels the ripples of regulations. However, it seems a conundrum that the industry often views regulation and its safeguarding sheath as an encumbrance, rather than leverage. Figures can be deceptive, but they reveal that the onerous nature of our regulatory and legal lattice makes compliance an uphill task for many professionals in the industry. Yet it’s not optional. Deviation from these laws sparks penal repercussions from flag and port states.