B SAFE Loss Prevention BSAFE INCIDENT CASE STUDY 03: LONE WATCHKEEPING GROUNDING AT NIGHT Published: 31 January 2021 While on passage at night, a 2,281gt general cargo ship ran aground on the Pentland Skerries in the eastern entrance of the Pentland Firth, Scotland (Figure 1). The ship sustained significant hull damage, but there was no pollution or injuries. Figure 1 Ship hard aground following the incident. Source: MAIB WHAT HAPPENED? On the afternoon before the grounding, while on passage, a bridge team meeting was held to discuss the forthcoming transit of the Pentland Firth, a stretch of water to the north of the Scottish mainland notorious for extreme tidal and sea conditions. The master decided to adjust the bridge watchkeeping schedule in order to make the transit in favourable tidal conditions. The cadet was directed to keep watch from 2300 to 0200 (all times UTC + 2) and the maritime officer would then commence his watch with the transit of the Pentland Firth due to begin at about 0500. Between about 1730 and 1900 the maritime officer had dinner and consumed two beers in the mess room. He went to his cabin at about 1900 and slept from approximately 2130 until 0145. The maritime officer relieved the cadet as officer of the watch (OOW) at 0200 with the ship making 7.8kts on a heading of 280° in calm seas. The ship had been on track mode steering, which enables it to automatically follow its planned track. However, the maritime officer deselected this and switched to the standalone autopilot and set the heading to 279°. ALONE ON THE BRIDGE, HE THEN SAT DOWN IN THE BRIDGE CHAIR ( FIGURE 2 ) AND STARTED WATCHING MUSIC VIDEOS ON HIS MOBILE PHONE. THE BRIDGE NAVIGATION WATCH ALARM SYSTEM (BNWAS) WAS NOT IN USE. At about 0400 the OOW looked at the radar and realised that the ship was south of the planned track ( Figure 3 ). At the same time he observed two small islands ahead on the radar. He decided to proceed between the islands and after which he intended to al