Question: What is The most dangerous hour in shipping?
Answer: 22:24 to 23:45
There are three watches aboard ship 00-04 (i.e. 0000 to 0400 and 1600 to 2200) is often stood by the Second Mate. 04-08 is often stood by the Chief Mate. 08-12 is stood by the Third Mate.
The C/M stands the 04-08 so he’s up and ready for the day workers to start work at 0800 and the Third Mate is given the 08-12 because the Captain is usually awake from 0600 to 2200 and is available to help the most junior watch officer.
But… from the time the Captain goes to bed till the Second Mate arrives for watch (at around
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7 responses so far ↓
1 gCaptain - Maritime News and Tools RSS Mashup // Dec 12, 2007 at 7:27 am
[…] The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping […]
2 John Denham // Dec 12, 2007 at 9:15 am
The article incorrectly implies ALL ships at sea are as described whereas many ships (cruise , MM&P manned vessel) frequently have licensed masters as 3rd mates. My experience was that all watch changing times were most exposed to distractions, confusion and misunderstanding. Always of concern was the evening meal relief.
3 John Denham // Dec 12, 2007 at 10:02 am
Regarding your article on BRM. See: Naval Institute Proceeding September 1994 pages 111-114.ORGANIZING AND MANAGING THE BRIDGE TEAM. The most important word is organizing. It doesn’t just happen. In APL it cost over $1,00,000 in training to convince many experienced , senior captains the bridge watch personnel were not individuals but teams, licensed, unlicensed and pilots. Few ships unmoor with the same people on the bridge as during the transit to or from sea. The article was written after implemenation at APL. The US Navy has a system of assigning duties to persons on the bridge for combat but few recognize the risk in day today navigation. See:” Why Didn’t I Slow down.” Naval Institue Proceeding January 1966 Page 79-81
4 John // Dec 12, 2007 at 10:25 am
John you’re absolutely right, changeover is often the most dangerous time… hard to write an article on that though.
I should have set this part of the post in bold “Not a problem *if* the Third has experience”
5 Patrick // Dec 15, 2007 at 5:05 am
A significant number of ships have adopted an alternative watch schedule
2/m - 00-06, 08-10
c/m - 06-08, 12-1730
3/m - 10-12, 1730-24
This provide 10 to 12 hour rest periods for all involved
6 Fred Fry International: Maritime Monday 89 // Dec 17, 2007 at 9:58 am
[…] the Global Warming econuts. (Found at EU Referendum)gCaptain also looks at watchstanding with “The Most Dangerous Hour In Shipping”. After you read that, take a look at my post “DANICA WHITE Hijacking - ‘Minimum Safe Manning’ […]
7 Scott Kreger // Dec 18, 2007 at 4:39 am
Many US Ships, at least the goverment ship’s I have sailed on have two 3rd mates in addition to the CM & 2M.
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