Why did crewmember fall off bridge wing?

It is a very, very rare occurrence for a large commercial ship crewmember to fall overboard. We recently talked to several career U.S. merchant mariners and none of them could recall that ever happening on any of their ships.

Yet, that very situation happened on the USNS Stephen W. Pless (Waterman Steamship Corp.) when the chief mate fell off the bridge wing while conducting operations off the coast of Guam on Feb. 27.

Off the bridge wing and into the Pacific Ocean.

How did this happen? Was he leaning over the bulwark to inspect the side of the ship or to look at the life ring held in the rack in that location? Did a rusted railing he was leaning on give way?

If in fact the cause of the incident was because of unseaworthiness, will the real story get out?

The Navy press release said that the captain, following protocol, immediately ordered a "man overboard" maneuver which is a "hard over" (35 degree) rudder turn toward the side of the ship the victim fell from until the vessel moves 60 degrees off course, followed by shifting the rudder hard over to the other direction until the heading is on a reciprocal course.

Orange smoke and two lighted life rings were tossed over.

A Navy search helicopter spotted the mate but rough conditions prevented the crew from retrieving him.

Source: Guampdn.com