Bridge resource management

Tradewinds is reporting that Carnival has ordered an urgent audit of its safety and emergency response procedures following the loss of Costa Concordia. While the media crucifixion of the Captain continues, the Antipodean Mariner is certain that Costa's Marine Superintendent is grilling the other members of the bridge team as to their role in, and reason for their collective 'brain fart' that put the ship on her side.

All deck officers receive training in bridge resource management, which is modelled on the aviation model of cockpit resource management. Under BRM, every member of the bridge team has a voice and is expected to actively raise their concerns as to the safety of any deviation from the berth-to-berth passage plan. Assuming that Costa Concordia had two navigating officers on the bridge as well as the Master, it seems inconceivable that they would assent by their silence to the deviation towards the island and is completely contrary to the principles of BRM. Carnival Cruises would spent millions of dollars every year putting their officers through simulator training and BRM.

The hierachical command structure naturally puts junior officers at a disadvantage when the Master issues an instruction but the officers had the 'advantage' of at least being the same nationality and having the same first language. 'Kennebec Captain' is a working Master and has posted some excellent bloggings on BRM - his blog is linked to the AM's.

An interesting observation that the port stabiliser fin can be seen deployed and apparently undamaged, forward of the hull penetrated by the grounding. For this to be undamaged indicates Costa Concordia was turning to starboard away from the island, which would move the stern to port and closer to the rocks.

Carnival and Costa must be questioning the culture of their bridge teams and why no-one was effective in challenged the apparent practice of 'tourism navigation'.

AM