El Faro’s Final Communications Played at Hearing – LISTEN

[kham]

Mp3 files for audio over at gCaptain

More than enough blame to go around. All the aviators here know the mantra, Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. It's the same for mariners, just replacing Aviate with Drive the Ship. Communicate is last for a good reason. No matter how well-intentioned they are on the other end, there's not a thing they can do to save your ass. This calling ashore for service reps, is a function of modern shipping, where companies want to make sure costs minimized; use one of their subcontractors rather than a Lloyds Open Form contract with any towing or salvage outfit. The problem is, they have to come from wherever. A general call for assistance will get whomever is around, but cost more. Llyods open Forms usually are of the "no cure, no pay'' type, but are expensive . But if you in danger of losing the vessel and crew, well... Unfortunately, too many defer to the shore office. Including the people ashore. You can just hear it, especially in the 3rd call with the CG Office. The guy there is just DYING to be ordered to be told what to do. So it is not his responsibility.

My bet here is the CG will take a mulligan and blame no one, so they all clean and no one gets sued. It isn't the first time this has happened