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Doug-
 Offshore, on a direct port-to-port line from a US port to a nearby island 
port. There was steady traffic along the route and a good deal of traffic in 
the area, i.e. across it as well. I would not consider it to be "open" or 
"safe" waters, and the mere absence of the bridge watch while the ship was 
underway--is that legal under any flag in any waters? Let alone prudent?

Just to clarify: I said it was a cruise ship, not a cruiser.

Although I also know an ex-USN captain who literally had a star shell fired 
across the bridge of hte next ship behind him, because they were under radio 
silence and that next ship was running him down. The star shell apparently 
attracted someone's attention and the other ship fell back to where it 
belonged.

As to commercial shipping always being a dollar game...Yes, I am aware of 
that. Since today it is possible to cut things down so far, I think are cut 
even more. Crew may no longer be dragooned, but how may ships and crew are 
procured from where these days? I think the international dodges go to a 
greater extent than were previously possible, and since a crew of 7-12 may be 
considered adequate, it becomes harder to rotate fresh eyes up on the bridge 
watch, doesn't it?

   

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