hi michael
yes,,Maersk is 1st in scheduling and keep them, I know that,,worked about 3 years on Maersk chartered ships. There surely is a reason why they are so big.
I personally as Master would however not like to sail those big ships, special as I pointed out for liability reasons against the master after accident happens. If they maneuvre that ,good,, yes,,most probably they do. But then, almost all container ships nowadays
maneuvre very good. But it is also a fact that most container ships have underpowered
bowthrusters and sometimes getting in hairy situations when sudden wind sqaulls coming up
(talking out of own experiences)
Ships breaking down, thats a fact and sooner or later it will happen also with a E-class
or even bigger ones. Then the blame game starts and as you well know, the weak link in the litigation chain is the Master.
Remember the Exxon Valdez ? 2 or 3 days after the accident Exxon filed a law suit against the Master, also when he in the end was cleared, but his carriere was over. (at least then)
No Masters job is paid that good, that with one mistake your carriere is over.
As you pointed out,,the media reports right away and todays media and public want always right away a "guilty" one. That,s expected from them almost by the public
The real problem in my view, one mistake on such ships or mishap is already one too much.
On most ships I sailed, one could control a situation, on these big ships, with a power failure in the wrong moment there is no controle anymore.
As you pointed out, the windfactor, just imagine wind 4-5 and not even half full by weight
but full by empty container. Those ships going off like a sailing yard at full speed !!!
Lets hope that never will happen, but surely I don,t want to be in the shoes of that unfortunate Capt to whom it will happen !!!
regds
capt ted
