"Watch" On The One-Man Bridge Continues

The debate over the acceptability of one-officer watch at night was recently revived at the meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The result of the meeting — among other safety measures discussed and adopted — was to continue trials involving ships with just one officer on watch during dark hours.

The trials are scheduled to continue until the end of 1997, at which time the test results will be submitted to the IMO for further evaluation.

The trials were dropped last year following pressure from several member states. After the trials conclude in 1997, the member states will reconsider the advisability of amending the convention on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) to permit solo watchkeeping at night.