Fatigue and Training Gaps Spell Disaster at Sea, Sailors Warn

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

Fatigue and Training Gaps Spell Disaster at Sea, Sailors Warn

By DAVE PHILIPPS and ERIC SCHMITT AUG. 27, 2017

WASHINGTON — Two deadly collisions between high-tech destroyers and easy-to-spot, slow moving cargo ships in little over two months have stunned many in the Navy and sent top leaders scrambling for answers.

But shipboard veterans had long seen signs of trouble. Factor in a shrinking Navy performing the same duties as a larger fleet did a decade ago, constant deployments that leave little time to train and relentless duties that require sailors driving 9,000 ton vessels to endure sleepless stretches that would be illegal for bus drivers and avoidable accidents can happen, current and former officers say.

“What seems impossible — that two ships could hit in the middle of the ocean — becomes very real,” said Robert McFall, a former Navy lieutenant commander who served as the operations officer of the destroyer Fitzgerald in 2014. “If you are not at your best, events can start that lead to a disaster.”

Since the loss of 17 sailors after the Fitzgerald collided with a freighter near Tokyo in June, and a second destroyer, the John S. McCain, collided with a tanker last Monday while approaching Singapore, Navy investigators are piecing together the causes of the fatal crashes. Congress has scheduled hearings next month that will include top commanders and safety auditors.

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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/27/world/asia/fatigue-and-training-gaps-spell-disaster-at-sea-sailors-warn.html

[Sneederbunk]

1. Wondering how many sailors and how many

Pieces of state of the art equipment are on lookout at any one time.

[Historic NY]

2. Meanwhile Dear Leader wants more ships.....

[Hoyt]

3. As one of the talking-head x-generals said -- Jeez, these ships are scanning for terrorist boats,

submarines, planes, missiles, etc., 24/7, how in the hell do two Navy ships hit other vessels? I think this is more than fatigue.