-——The captain and the captain alone is in command of that ship——
I thought it was reported that at the time of the collision the captain was having a meal. Was he actually on the bridge and in direct maneuvering command when the ship struck the reef?
If he is asleep in his bunk the ship is presumably doing what he has ordered. He has “command” unless he is dead. Anything he does of course he must later be able to justify. It’s the command/responsibility thing; they need someone upon which to hang laurels or to hang until dead, depending upon how things go...
“I thought it was reported that at the time of the collision the captain was having a meal. Was he actually on the bridge and in direct maneuvering command when the ship struck the reef?”
I recall that the 1st officer was dubious about the pass and sent word to the Captain of his concern and that the Captain, at dinner, waved it away. Or at some point before or after the rocks the captain waved away the bridge’s concern with the situation. Amazed the hell out of me. Will have to re-read. There were so many versions of events at the start with this story
“The captain and the captain alone is in command of that ship
I thought it was reported that at the time of the collision the captain was having a meal. Was he actually on the bridge and in direct maneuvering command when the ship struck the reef?”
It doesn’t matter where he was on the ship, He STILL holds ultimate direct responsibility. Others might be faulted but it is still his baby! USN Ret.