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Naval Commanders In 2 Deadly Ship Collisions To Be Charged With Negligent Homicide
The U.S. Navy announced Tuesday that the commanding officers of two vessels involved in separate collisions in the Pacific Ocean last year will face court-martial proceedings and possible criminal charges including negligent homicide.
The statement by Navy spokesman Capt. Greg Hicks says the decision to prosecute the commanders, and several lower-ranking officers as well, was made by Adm. Frank Caldwell.
[...] In the case of the USS Fitzgerald, the commander, two lieutenants and one lieutenant junior grade face possible charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide.
The commander of the USS John S. McCain will face possible charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide. A chief petty officer also faces one possible charge of dereliction of duty.
Previously: U.S. Navy Destroyer Collides With Container Vessel
10 Sailors Still Missing After U.S. Destroyer Collision With Oil Tanker
Chief of Naval Operations Report on This Summer's Destroyer Collisions
(Score: 5, Informative) by Nuke on Wednesday January 17 2018, @10:55PM (1 child)
Ship's captains do sleep. I was an officer in the British navy at one time, and ships' captains did not do watchkeeping. They would only be called to the bridge if something unusual occured or looked like occuring, or in "interesting" or tricky situations like coming into dock, and obviously in combat. He was likely to be around the bridge a lot anyway, talking to the navigator etc, but not normally as the watchkeeper - although he could take over. Passing another ship would not constitute an occasion to call him to the bridge, unless it were an interesting one like another warship (when he would want to ensure that proper salutes and formalities were observed). The Officer of the Watch on the bridge, even of a large ship, could be quite junior, like a Sub-Lieutenant, in mid-ocean when nothing might be seen for days.
I cannot see that the sleeping capatain was directly responsible, but maybe indirectly if the organisation of his ship was poor, and in the sense that the buck stops with him. His superior, an admiral ashore, could be partly responsible in that sense too.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 17 2018, @11:45PM
Because Captains are considered to be on duty at all times until they are relieved. They may not be on watch or have the conn, but they are always on duty. Therefore, they are always in command of the ship and always responsible for what happens to it.