At 2113 local time on December 30, 2018, the stern of the passenger vessel Nippon Maru struck mooring dolphins at a US Navy fueling wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, while the vessel was maneuvering in a turning basin after getting under way from the harbor's commercial port. No pollution or injuries were reported. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $456,080; damage to the mooring dolphins was in excess of $500,000.

​​​The probable cause of the passenger vessel Nippon Maru’s contact with the mooring dolphins at the US Navy wharf D in Apra Harbor, Guam, was alcohol impairment of the master while he conned the vessel, resulting in an errant astern engine input.

​​Master/Pilot Exchange

The master/pilot exchange is a critical component of bridge resource management, and is more than a simple exchange of vessel particulars. The master/pilot exchange is an opportunity to ensure the pilot and bridge team can clearly communicate and have a shared mental model of the task ahead. A formal master/pilot exchange should be conducted whenever a pilot comes aboard a vessel, regardless of the level of familiarity with the pilot, the master, and the vessel.​