Now and then what sounds like a bad-news story is actually a good news story.
The Belgian Navy frigate Leopold I is not being allowed to take part in NATO’s ‘Joint Warrior’ naval exercise. The vessel’s young crew has been deemed to be insufficiently trained and didn’t reach the standards required to allow the Leopold I to take part in the exercise. One naval officer told VRT News that “This is an unprecedented fiasco for our Navy”. Meanwhile, the Defence Department has confirmed that the frigate will remain docked at the Dutch port of Den Helder.
Is it really a “fiasco?” Maybe not.
For a long time, here and other places, navalists – especially after the nightmarish summer of 2017 – expressed concerns that there an ongoing, overwhelming pressure to get to sea regardless of the condition of a ship and its crew. The loss of the 17 Sailors – drowned in their berthing – brought the risk of this habit to the front, as their deaths were partially the fault of ships with inadequately trained crews and inoperative equipment, but they got underway anyway.
Before we look askance at our Belgian allies, ponder a bit what this says about THEIR culture;
The preparedness issues were numerous, but above all centred around safety procedures such as firefighting. “When it comes to safety we don’t compromise. Setting off with a crew that isn’t completely ready and trained isn’t an option”.
… efforts are being made to bring the Leopold I’s crew’s training levels up to scratch. “During the past three weeks the crew has been given extra training and drills. We have brought in extra trainers that have a lot of experience. All being well and if the crew passes a number of tests that they will have to take, the Leopold I should be able to join the other ships that are taking part in the exercise some time next week”.
BZ to the Belgian Navy for making the call. They are at peace, and the schedule be damned. Do the right thing. A good benchmark.
We can learn a lot for our allies … big and small: the LEOPOLD I’s fail to sail should be on a short list of examples professionals being professionals referenced on a regular basis in discussions of risk management.
If people are upset that ships don’t get underway due to training, manning, or equipment shortfalls – then have the focus not be on the Commanding Officer and his Sailors … let the focus instead be on the senior leadership that did not ensure the ship was provided with the personnel and funding to be ready.
It is always better to be a bit embarrassed than to write letters to next of kin.
