Military investigates 'mutiny' allegations aboard officer cadet ship

Tabnabs

Ach mein gott!

After the death of a cadet aboard the officer training ship 'Gorch Fock,' other cadets are complaining of harsh treatment from superiors. Investigators are examining alleged calls for a munity.


After complaints of harsh treatment from cadets aboard a Bundeswehr officers' training ship, two separate investigations are underway to find out more about the situation aboard the "Gorch Fock."

In November, a cadet fell to her death from the rigging of the ship's three masts. Since then, some cadets have been reluctant to climb the rigging themselves while the ship is underway but have been reportedly pressured by superiors to do so.

In a letter written to the Defense Ministry, Hellmut Königshaus, the parliamentary ombudsman for the armed forces, reported that some cadets felt they were being put under duress.

According to German magazine Der Spiegel, the captain of the ship tried to dismiss the four reluctant climbers for mutiny against the officers and for instigating unrest among the crew of cadets.

The Gorch Fock's mast riggingBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Some cadets are reluctant to climb the rigging under sailKönigshaus's spokesman, Sebastian Hille, said cadets had suggested "something was wrong on the ship." The ombudsman's office has launched an investigation into the incident.

The defense ministry said it was starting its own investigation into the situation on the "Gorch Fock." In the meantime, the ship has been ordered to conclude all training and sail back to Germany for further investigation.

The ship recently passed the southern tip of South America and is due to sail across the Pacific Ocean.

source

Manic Moran

One would have thought that climbing the rigging would be pretty much a mandatory component of running a tall ship, and that the appropriate officer would be well within his reasonable rights to mandate climbing them for operational purposes.

NTM

goldie fish

Symptomatic of the cotton wool mentality that is so common amongst todays youff.
If they use the harness they won't fall. If they climb the way they are trained to, they won't fall.

Keelhaul them!

RMD

Wow, people join a career where danger is to be expected yet refuse to do something as basic as a climb a mast. Put a harness on and they're ready to go.

tricky D

A bit more on this: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0121/1224288009845.html

Claims of mutiny as German naval cadets react to fatality

DEREK SCALLY in Berlin

A GERMAN navy training ship has been ordered to dock in Argentina for an investigation into allegations of mutiny following a fatal accident.

The Gorch Fock tall ship, a 52-year-old training vessel, was the scene of tragedy last November when a 25-year-old cadet, identified only as Sarah S, fell 27m (88ft) and was fatally injured.

Two months on, the full details of the accident are coming to light, including allegations of widespread bullying and sexual abuse by the ship’s permanent crew. Yesterday the ship was ordered back to port in Ushuaia, at the southernmost tip of Argentina, to allow investigators board the vessel.

Last November’s accident happened when Sarah S and other crew were ordered to scale the ship’s rigging, a standard part of sailor training aboard the ship.

The woman, from Lower Saxony, reportedly slipped, fell and hit the deck. After the fall she was taken to a hospital – the ship was docked in the Brazilian port of Salvador de Bahia at the time – where she later died from her injuries.

After her death, four of her shipmates refused orders to climb the rigging, sparking quarrels with their superiors. Days later the four were flown back to Germany on grounds of “mutiny and inciting the crew”. Gorch Fock commander Norbert Schatz accused the cadets of a “lack of co-operation with the ship’s command”. This sparked a wider mutiny and, days later, the entire crew of 70 were flown home.

At the time, Commander Schatz blamed the incident on the sedentary lifestyles of modern young people. “When I was a boy I used to climb cherry trees in our neighbour’s garden and was always down again quick enough when he [his neighbour] came out,” he said. “Motor skills have dropped – youngsters don’t sit in cherry trees anymore but rather in front of computers.” The ship has had no cadets since then.

A parliamentary investigation report released this week painted a different picture of the incident. Cadets “did not want to go aloft after the painful loss of their comrade”, the report says, while other cadets told investigators they “did not continue on the Gorch Fock ”.

The investigator found evidence of crew exercising psychological and emotional pressure on cadets to continue the training.

Defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has promised to examine the report’s findings in detail. “There will be no prejudice from my side,” he said, promising that any incorrect behaviour by naval personnel would “naturally have consequences”.

NUTLEY BOY

AFAIK this latest fatality was a 25 yo female petty officer with 3 yrs+ service so I assume that she was reasonably experienced at complying with orders and taking on challenges.

The Germans might need to review their training and or their systems as they have had a few fatalities on Gorch Fock in the last few years. The total death toll from inception 1958 is 6 personnel.

An 18 yo female officer cadet went overboard from Gorch Fock in September 2008. Found floating in the North Sea about 10 days later. +.

Around 2002 a 19 yo male fell from the rigging whilst alongside. +.

Around 1998 a similar accident to 2002 also involving a young male. +.

There have also been two fatalities prior to these but I know nothing of them.

BTW goldie fish harnesses DO NOT eliminate the falling risk completely as there times during the ascending / descending processes when you are not clipped on. Also, you may have to clip or unclip at certain points as you step out on to a yardarm and at other points as you step out along it or make the reverse trip. Incidentally, some of the people you might like to keelhaul are actually dead.

Manic Moran

Incidentally, some of the people you might like to keelhaul are actually dead.

That does rather take the fun out of keelhauling them, doesn't it?
I wonder when the last actual keelhauling took place?

My favourite line from Flight of the Intruder, Danny Glover:

"You pull a stunt like that again, I'll have you keelhauled. And that's serious on an aircraft carrier"

NTM

goldie fish

NUTLEY BOY wrote: »

AFAIK this latest fatality was a 25 yo female petty officer with 3 yrs+ service so I assume that she was reasonably experienced at complying with orders and taking on challenges.

The Germans might need to review their training and or their systems as they have had a few fatalities on Gorch Fock in the last few years. The total death toll from inception 1958 is 6 personnel.

An 18 yo female officer cadet went overboard from Gorch Fock in September 2008. Found floating in the North Sea about 10 days later. +.

Around 2002 a 19 yo male fell from the rigging whilst alongside. +.

Around 1998 a similar accident to 2002 also involving a young male. +.

There have also been two fatalities prior to these but I know nothing of them.

BTW goldie fish harnesses DO NOT eliminate the falling risk completely as there times during the ascending / descending processes when you are not clipped on. Also, you may have to clip or unclip at certain points as you step out on to a yardarm and at other points as you step out along it or make the reverse trip. Incidentally, some of the people you might like to keelhaul are actually dead.

If you are stepping on, you have a backrope. If you are trained properly and listen to the instructor, it is perfectly safe.
6 fatalities since 1958 is a very good safety record, at sea. The company I worked for had 4 fatalities aboard ship in 3 months.