The Panamanian passenger ship ROYAL MAJESTY grounded while approaching Boston Harbor on June 10, 1995. Overreliance on automation by an inattentive crew was determined to be the cause of the accident by NTSB. The GPS antenna upon which the automation system relied had become disconnected shortly after departure from Bermuda. The automated system defaulted to dead reckoning and did not compensate for wind or sea conditions. Failure to notice that the system had shifted to dead reckoning, to follow up on visual clues, or to use other systems to check on the automated systems' positions led to the grounding. The vessel was 17 miles off course.
The passenger ship STAR PRINCESS en route from Skagway, Alaska to Juneau, Alaska grounded in Lynn Canal on June 23, 1995. The state pilot who was navigating the vessel made an error in navigation. During the NTSB investigation, it was determined that the pilot had a sleeping disorder which may have contributed to his error. The NTSB also determined that the watchstanders and pilot failed to use good Resource Management practices because they did not use personnel and equipment available to properly monitor the progress of the cruise ship's course.
Captain Greiner of Maritime & Aviation Consultants, was retained by Alaska State to investigate this casualty. He had also investigated a prior collision between two cruise ships in Skagway in which the same pilot was involved.
Home ! Search Page ! Master index ! Table of Contents for This Issue