In the case of Command at Sea , it is notable that the situation here requires emergency attendance. A young seaman while having time off from work was exercising and in the process injured himself in an accident. The ship crew is in the deep sea, and the situation needs further and more skilled attention. This required medical attention can only be accessed in better hospitals in the mainland. The situation calls for medical evacuation through their aircraft carrier. The sun is setting, and it will soon be dark, removal seems much more insurmountable, and it is upon the commanding officer to arrange this with the carrier air group commander. It is notable that the young seaman is in pain, an implication that time is of the essence here. Basically, a decision has to be made. The dilemma is on the commanding officer; he has to assess the risks and evaluate the situation before making the final decision.
The analysis of Command at Sea case study reveals how captains are confronted with ethical dilemmas while making professional decisions. Fundamentally any commanding officer (CO) or otherwise the captain typically has the responsibility to adopt personal abilities and professional skills to handle any arising matter. Under maritime laws and regulations commanding officers have that responsibility to act professionally; that is, with precision, accuracy, timely and ethically. Literally, the ship is under their control and whatever happens to the vessel squarely lays on the Commanding officer's professionalism in decision making (Bundy & Pfarrer, 2015). The captain has the responsibilities of engineering, navigation, and support of the general crew.
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The issues here are whether to call for evacuation or not. The commanding officer has the dilemma whether to call for an evacuation, report to the matter or attempt helping the injured seaman. Under such circumstances, the rules that apply are Maritime Forces; the commanding officer has the responsibilities to abide by this rules and regulations. Similarly, all the crew has to follow the strict decisions and instruction offered by the commanding officer to ensure that there is a thriving execution of the predetermined operation at sea. The questions that arise here is whether it is possible to conduct the medical evacuation or find an alternative. As a commanding officer, the captain has the rights to order or sedation of the young seaman until the next day when the medical evacuation will be possible. Secondly, there is also an alternative of ordering for immediate evacuation. However, two of these alternatives seem impossible, requesting an immediate evacuation will be risking the aircrafts crews. Secondly, the young seaman is in so much pain and has no experience in flying and therefore cannot be hoisted to the helicopter easily.
The possible proposal, since the weather for either tomorrow or the next day cannot be predicted, it is only reasonable that the medical evacuation process should be completed that evening. Considering the situation of the ship, the young seaman and the general circumstances, postponing the evacuation would imply dire consequences. Preferably, since the young man has no experience in flying and the ship itself cannot support the helicopter landing. The young man will be sedated and make it possible to hoist him to the helicopter that will be flying/hovering over the stern. This is also possible because this is the only helicopter and flight crew certified to fly at night.
As a recommendation, the ship should be repaired, and close supervision conducted to ensure such accidents do not occur again. Similarly, the ship's stern should be rebuilt to provide safe helicopter's landing in times calamities. In the same breath, the ship's crew should also be trained not only in the sea fairing but also on flying in the air. In conclusion, therefore, it is discoverable that this study analysis aimed at identifying issues, examine the problem and attempt to offer a professional ethical solution or decisions as required in times of crisis. It is in this circumstances that a party may understand the professionalism, skills and moral concepts needed in deciding crises.
References
Bundy, J., & Pfarrer, M. D. (2015). A burden of responsibility: The role of social approval at the onset of a crisis. Academy of Management Review, 40 (3), 345-369.
