Robert
good point
but one thing is good and smart
1) no statement
the reason why I say that is look around the world, the moment an accident happens they jail the Capt.
If I ever have something like that,,all what they here from me,,name/rank and I want a lawyer!!!!,,, like a prisoner of war,,what virtually Capt,s become in such cases,, Look now the issue in spain with the capt of the Erika,,the spanish gov denied a ship help and they blame the Capt,,
The whole European coast is full of countries where totally incompetent authorities run the show with no resposibilties whatsoever (max what can happen to them getting transfered)
while the Master of a ship goes to jail or at least gets detained in the country where it happened. Seen from that point,, whoever is at fault can be glad that it happened in international waters because at least they can,t jail him ,,at least for now !!!
The maritime business,,special after accidents happen is a FARCE and all what the public wants is a GUILTY and the media the same,,,
Something will happen one day,,but we are years off from solving these matters,,,as long as sailors are automatic criminials when something goes wrong nobody has to wonder then when they lawer up the moment something goes wrong