“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge”, so said Charles Darwin.When one reads the Safety Digest published by MAIB of UK and MARS reports of Nautical Institute, it is disheartening. The readers can rest assured that this column is not going to analyse each and every report.
Whether it is fire in the gymnasium, injury while overhauling purifiers, fracture during mooring operation or grounding the vessel after having a party, the underlying cause can be attributed to either ignorance or confidence or wrong assumptions being made.
Before the worthies who hold Certificates of Competence and are armed with degrees to boot come hollering that it is typical of an old boy to deride modern generation, let me draw their attention to what Toba Beta said in Betegeuse Incident:
Overconfidence blurs out the risk. Inferiority magnifies it.
If someone does not know the ship and its peculiarities and operation, in my book, he / she is an ignoramus. It might be hurting to be described as ignorant when after undergoing training and obtaining certificates to be a Master or Chief Engineer as the case may be. It has been showed time and again that ignorance breeds over confidence especially if one does not want to accept one is ignorant or thinks one knows all on the basis of the certificates held.
This ignorance leads to overconfidence, which makes the risk assessment exercise (if carried out!) an exercise in futility.
It is advisable not to make assumptions irrespective of your experience and qualifications. Be courageous in asking questions and communicate as clearly as you can to avoid undue risks being taken to avoid sadness and drama.
The word ignorant might be harsh, but if incidents, injuries and in some cases fatalities are to be avoided the knowledge of ship and the systems on board is essential. An individual who does not have this knowledge is an ignoramus!
The Bard wrote:
“Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.”
One may not fly to heaven but avoid incidents which may lead to injuries or loss detrimental to one’s career and reputation.
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