shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » After Grounding, Maryland Bans Marine Pilots From Using Their Phones

After Grounding, Maryland Bans Marine Pilots From Using Their Phones

by Joshua
January 23, 2023
in Maritime safety

After a distracted pilot ran the boxship Ever Forward aground in Chesapeake Bay last March, the Maryland Board of Pilots has decided to enact a rule change that forbids on-duty pilots from using their phones.

“The job of a state-licensed pilot requires absolute attention and focus on the job of safety piloting, navigating maneuvering, anchoring docking or undocking a vessel,” board chairman Sandy Steeves told local media in a statement.

Maryland banned texting and driving in 2013, but it had still been technically legal to “text and pilot” merchant ships while in state waters. Last year, one pilot’s ill-timed decision to use a phone put the containership Ever Forward aground on an oyster bank, where the vessel stayed for a month as salvors worked to free her.

Ever Forward departed Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore on the evening of March 13, 2022, with a licensed Maryland senior pilot on the bridge. The 12,000 TEU vessel was outbound, headed for Norfolk, in mild, clear weather.

At 1930 hours, the master left the bridge to go to dinner, leaving the pilot with the third officer, an AB and a cadet. At 2017 hours, as Ever Forward approached a turn in the channel, the pilot – distracted by his phone – gave no orders to make the course change. The third officer reminded him of current speed and heading in hopes of getting his attention, but the pilot did not notice. The vessel had overshot her turn by a full minute at full ahead by the time he became aware that something was amiss. He ordered urgent maneuvers to avoid a grounding, but it was too late.

Investigators reviewed the vessel’s Voice Data Recorder and found that the pilot talked on the phone for about half of the 126 minute time period between leaving the berth and running aground. He had also been seen texting and writing an email on his phone (and he was writing an email when the turn was missed).

“Had Pilot 1 refrained from drafting email correspondence, and placing and receiving personal or non-urgent professional calls, it is possible he would have maintained better situational awareness and properly executed the turn in a timely manner, avoiding the vessel grounding,” the Coast Guard concluded.

In October, the Maryland Board of Pilots suspended the license of the pilot involved, though it offered him an opportunity for a hearing to appeal the decision.

The Association of Maryland Pilots and the Maryland Board of Pilots did not have cell phone policies at the time of the grounding. The U.S. Coast Guard does not have formal regulations on cell phone use, though it “strongly recommends vessel owners and operators to develop and implement effective operational policies.”

shippingposition

Kindly like us on Facebook/twitter


Related Posts

Shipping Company Sentenced in MARPOL Violation Case, Engineer Acquitted

January 30, 2023
Shipping’s Decarbonization Outlook for 2023

INCREDIBLE: Boy Ends up Accidentally Traveling 1600NM in a Locked Shipping Container

January 30, 2023
Minister Hails Military’s Fight Against Piracy In Gulf Of Guinea

Minister Hails Military’s Fight Against Piracy In Gulf Of Guinea

January 30, 2023
U.S. Naval Commander Attributes Drop In Piracy To Obangame Exercises

U.S. Naval Commander Attributes Drop In Piracy To Obangame Exercises

January 30, 2023

Latest News

LASWA Trains School Children in Riverine Public Schools in Epe Swimming Lessons 

LASWA Trains School Children in Riverine Public Schools in Epe Swimming Lessons 

January 30, 2023

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is “Shipped On Board” in Logistics?

SHIP TALK: Different Types Of Bill Of Lading

Shipping Company Sentenced in MARPOL Violation Case, Engineer Acquitted

INCREDIBLE: Boy Ends up Accidentally Traveling 1600NM in a Locked Shipping Container

Minister Hails Military’s Fight Against Piracy In Gulf Of Guinea

U.S. Naval Commander Attributes Drop In Piracy To Obangame Exercises

Here’s Welcoming Lekki Deep Seaport

Do you think the Federal Government is sincere about the CVFF disbursement?

BREAKING: President Buhari Commissions Dala Inland Dry Port

VESSELS EXPECTED AT LAGOS PORTS AS AT 30TH JANUARY, 2023.

Despite Commissioning, Infrastructure Deficits Delay Actual Commercial Operations At Lekki Port By Months  

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

Unhealthy Environment Causes 12.6m Deaths Worldwide, WHO Says
Health

Unhealthy Environment Causes 12.6m Deaths Worldwide, WHO Says

December 19, 2022

The World Health Organisation has said that the number of people estimated to have died as a result of living...

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Leaf

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Leaf

December 12, 2022
More Women May Die During Childbirth In West Africa — Report

More Women May Die During Childbirth In West Africa — Report

December 12, 2022
The Many Wonderful Uses Of Onions

The Many Wonderful Uses Of Onions

December 5, 2022
Nigeria Yet To Achieve 70% COVID-19 Immunisation Coverage, Says NPHCDA

Nigeria Yet To Achieve 70% COVID-19 Immunisation Coverage, Says NPHCDA

December 5, 2022
COVID-19 Cases Increasing, Continue With Preventive Measures — UITH-ARD Warns

COVID-19 Cases Increasing, Continue With Preventive Measures — UITH-ARD Warns

December 5, 2022
Panic As Monkeypox Spreads To 32 States, Cases Now 604

Panic As Monkeypox Spreads To 32 States, Cases Now 604

November 28, 2022
Over 1bn Youths Risk Hearing Loss From Headphones, Loud Music — Study

Over 1bn Youths Risk Hearing Loss From Headphones, Loud Music — Study

November 28, 2022
Consuming Undercooked Meat May Lead To Tuberculosis — Epidemiologist

Consuming Undercooked Meat May Lead To Tuberculosis — Epidemiologist

November 28, 2022
Infertility Red Flags Men, Women Should Not Ignore – Experts

Infertility Red Flags Men, Women Should Not Ignore – Experts

November 28, 2022

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition