Simple Simon wrote:

My little, 27-foot sailboat doesn't need a full crew to operate
safely while a giant ship DOES. Say, for instance, what if
the one man at the bridge suffers a stroke or heart attack?
How many hours will the ship operate on instruments alone
and how many collisions will result? How many deaths of
innocents aboard other ships - possibly a cruise ship with
thousands aboard? It WILL happen sooner or later.

Don't know how one man bridges operate, I see. What if YOU have a heart
attack, alone on your boat?

There needs to be a legal minimum of three qualified men
on the bridge at all times. One lone man does not cut the
mustard. It's criminal that so-called professional captains allow
this abuse of safety. It's even worse that the Coast Guard
doesn't do something about it on American flagged
vessels, at least. Deaths caused by OMMO on American
flagged vessels will ultimately rest on the Coast Guard's
shoulders.

Why three? What are these three supposed to be doing?

The FAA, at least, has it's act together. One pilot doesn't
get it on large commercial aircraft. Two and a navigator
are the minimum. It should be the same aboard large
ships.

Think pilot and co-pilot are all, nowadays.

That's the main difference. If Shen44 and otnmbrd were more
motivated by safety and less motivated by greed they would
strike and refuse, along with all sane captains, to operate a
huge motor vessel single-handed. But, noooooooooo, they
add to the dangerous situation rather than act to diffuse it.

LOL neither Shen nor I have ever operated a large motor vessel or steam
vessel single handed .... can you say the same about your dinky little
sailboat?


As for your question about my getting a sailing endorsement . . .
A sailing endorsement is not needed at this time. I know
the answers to all the questions so I have the same knowledge
with or without the endorsement. I definitely have the experience
needed as well. Since I'm not taking passengers for hire aboard my
yacht at this time a sailing endorsement is rather like teats on a
boarhog.

ROFL As you've proved with the Rules of the Road, knowing the answers to
the questions on the test, is NO indication of your actual knowledge
and/or abilities.


otn