Celebrity wipes out Ketchikan dock

[princesstiffany]

Wiped out, scratch, hole, puncture- whatever. It looks pretty bad to me.

[chemistrynerd]

What are the likely outcomes for the company and captain from this incident? It seems that winds were very high (not unusual?) and contributed to the accident. Does this seem like pilot error in difficult but manageable conditions, poor judgement to try to dock, or indicative of company pressure to keep a schedule (or all three)? Who handles docking - captain or the local pilot?

 

What is likely going on behind the scenes at Celebrity, and is anyone losing sleep over this?

Edited June 10, 2016 by chemistrynerd
typo

[chengkp75]

What are the likely outcomes for the company and captain from this incident? It seems that winds were very high (not unusual?) and contributed to the accident. Does this seem like pilot error in difficult but manageable conditions, poor judgement to try to dock, or indicative of company pressure to keep a schedule (or all three)? Who handles docking - captain or the local pilot?

 

What is likely going on behind the scenes at Celebrity, and is anyone losing sleep over this?

 

If you're interested, there is a thread over on the Celebrity forum, and here is what I've posted there, and other times, regarding the Captain/Pilot relationship:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=50176411&postcount=127

 

Now, to your first question. The company will pay for all damages to the ship and the dock, that is a given. The USCG, as port state only, will investigate the incident, and the report will eventually be posted here:

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiapoyc653NAhXkIMAKHRUhBscQFggcMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcgmix.uscg.mil%2Fiir%2F&usg=AFQjCNEnWUW6ncgUp6n11G844uqqeRWAlg

 

But be advised, that the Carnival Pride allision with the boarding ramp in Baltimore is still not posted, so that investigation still is not complete, the US government wheels turn slowly.

 

Depending on what is determined by the investigation, the USCG can request either the flag state of the ship, or the nation where the Captain's license is issued to proceed against his license. Only the nation that issued the license can revoke it, and only the flag state can bar him from sailing on ships of their flag. However, if it is determined that the Captain followed all of the Company's ISM (International Safety Management) protocols for docking in heavy weather, there will likely not be any proceedings against him. He may get transferred to another ship out of the limelight, or he may get let go, but there would be no mark on his professional record.

 

Frankly, since I was not on the bridge at the time, I really cannot comment on who to place any "blame" on, and neither can anyone on CC. However, there is one cause you fail to mention, besides pilot error, poor judgement, or company pressure, and that is "act of God". Accidents happen, ISM tries to mitigate problems from occurring, but accidents still happen. The USCG, the flag state, the class society, or Celebrity internally may decide that Celebrity's ISM docking protocols need review, and this is what industry strives for, always bettering from lessons learned.

[chemistrynerd]

Very interesting (both the post here and on the Celebrity boards). Thank you.

[Tonka's Skipper]

If you're interested, there is a thread over on the Celebrity forum, and here is what I've posted there, and other times, regarding the Captain/Pilot relationship:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=50176411&postcount=127

 

Now, to your first question. The company will pay for all damages to the ship and the dock, that is a given. The USCG, as port state only, will investigate the incident, and the report will eventually be posted here:

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiapoyc653NAhXkIMAKHRUhBscQFggcMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcgmix.uscg.mil%2Fiir%2F&usg=AFQjCNEnWUW6ncgUp6n11G844uqqeRWAlg

 

But be advised, that the Carnival Pride allision with the boarding ramp in Baltimore is still not posted, so that investigation still is not complete, the US government wheels turn slowly.

 

Depending on what is determined by the investigation, the USCG can request either the flag state of the ship, or the nation where the Captain's license is issued to proceed against his license. Only the nation that issued the license can revoke it, and only the flag state can bar him from sailing on ships of their flag. However, if it is determined that the Captain followed all of the Company's ISM (International Safety Management) protocols for docking in heavy weather, there will likely not be any proceedings against him. He may get transferred to another ship out of the limelight, or he may get let go, but there would be no mark on his professional record.

 

Frankly, since I was not on the bridge at the time, I really cannot comment on who to place any "blame" on, and neither can anyone on CC. However, there is one cause you fail to mention, besides pilot error, poor judgement, or company pressure, and that is "act of God". Accidents happen, ISM tries to mitigate problems from occurring, but accidents still happen. The USCG, the flag state, the class society, or Celebrity internally may decide that Celebrity's ISM docking protocols need review, and this is what industry strives for, always bettering from lessons learned.

 

Right on point Chief