Why did the Bounty sink? Continued...

Admin Edit: This thread is a continuation of a closed thread, located here...

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-yachting-discussion/19850-why-did-bounty-sink.html

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Let's try one more time to have a discussion on the investigation. The findings include operational and philosophical considerations that apply to everyone who leaves the dock whether as master, crew, passenger, or guest.

The lessons learned are too valuable to waste ...

Sinking of Tall Ship Bounty NTSB/MAB-14/03


"It was an end to a voyage that should not have been attempted. To set sail into an approaching hurricane introduced needless risk."

"Further, most of the crewmembers were inexperienced and their complement was smaller than usual."

"In addition, despite the fact that the Bounty took on water even in good conditions―and that wood rot had been discovered during the shipyard period―the captain gave no order to ensure that all onboard pumps were fully operational before departing, even though he knew that the vessel was sure to encounter rough seas during the voyage"

"This failure on his part further compromised the safety of everyone on board.Finally, the vessel organization did nothing to dissuade the captain from sailing."

Probable Cause

"The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of tall ship Bounty was the captain’s reckless decision to sail the vessel into the well-forecasted path of Hurricane Sandy, which subjected the aging vessel and the inexperienced crew to conditions from which the vessel could not recover."

"Contributing to the sinking was the lack of effective safety oversight by the vessel organization."

Along with complacency is the "God complex" inherent in some of those people. That is the reason for safety management systems that are rooted in the owners or managers of vessels like that.

"No matter how interested individual employees might be, or what assistance a manufacturer offers, or how insistent a certificating authority might be—none of these factors will have a significant effect on safety without support from top management."

— John O'Brian, ALPA's Engineering and Air Safety Department.

"Safety begins in the boardroom."

— James L. Oberstar, member U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

When a captain places pleasing his employers above the safety of his passengers or crew, and even his own, the only firewall remaining is an employer (manager) who will acknowledge the danger in that behavior.

The problem faced by the yacht industry is that manufacturers have no interest post delivery, regulators are rarely involved even post accident, and the zero to hero culture does not require any lengthy period of supervision or tutelage. Many of those in command have never been commanded.

Leadership is learned by being lead, judgement is learned (in part) by observing the results of bad judgement. The Bounty survivors learned a lesson in judgement that their captain repeatedly missed for all the years he operated that vessel without oversight or question.

You have probably nailed it. I believe the root cause of this was the captain's psychological makeup. Narcissism was probably a very large part of his emotional condition and what lead to his making decisions that, even had the outcome been successful, benefited nothing other than his carefully managed image.

Among the many chilling findings in the reports is in the NTSB report quoted earlier.

"In addition, despite the fact that the Bounty took on water even in good conditions―and that wood rot had been discovered during the shipyard period―the captain gave no order to ensure that all onboard pumps were fully operational before departing, even though he knew that the vessel was sure to encounter rough seas during the voyage"

The reasons why defy reason and leave me wondering if, as you posit, he knew the end of his reign was near and this was his Götterdämmerung.

The horror of this story is that no one in the final hours before departing New London walked off that boat. I think it was more a cult than a crew. There is an aspect of the tallship lifestyle that attracts followers who do not become the best leaders. Bounty is the poster boat for the failure of leadership and management at every level.

All of the above and bound together by peer pressure, probably. Most of the crew had spent a fair amount of time on the boat together and there would have been a strong bond formed under the leadership of a charismatic figure. The new crew probably thought that if the old timers were OK with the decision to go then who were they to question it.

I see that pre-departure meeting around the capstain as a scene directly out of the many movies where the squadron, team, crew, or platoon, makes the decision to go out in glory together. It was a lovely bit of theater that reinforced the image of a Dana-esque adventure under sail. They were going to challenge the sea under a master who laughed in the face of hurricanes.
Besides, they knew that adventurous young people don't really die in terror, they are immortal.

I think they have been well and truly punished for what they knew but didn't act on, for following a cult leader, and for believing they were immortal.

I tend to agree that the mate was derelict and should have his license revoked or at least suspended. The mate held a license and a position of responsibility and authority that, if he acted on the knowledge he had of the boat's condition, the lack of preparedness (no testing of dewatering equipment), and the weather conditions, he could have saved Claudine's life.

He could have ended that Wagnerian farce by simply walking ashore. He probably would have been followed by many others who only needed someone to validate their own concerns.

Can't help but to think that if there were any reason other than captain's decision to go chase a hurricane it would have been used to help justify that decision.

What is the worst that could have happened if they stayed at the dock? Holed by a piling and sunk in 15 feet of water?