​On December 10, 2024, about 2121 local time, the fishing vessel Mystery was transiting the Unga Strait along the Aleutian Peninsula with three crewmembers on board when the vessel grounded and flooded near Seal Cape, about 25 miles west of Sand Point, Alaska. The crewmembers were rescued from the vessel by the US Coast Guard. Up to 2,080 gallons of fuel and lube oil were on board the vessel. No injuries were reported. The vessel, plus gear, was a total loss, valued at $950,000.

​​We determined that the probable cause of the grounding of the fishing vessel Mystery was the deckhand on watch not maintaining a proper navigation watch, likely due to his overreliance on the vessel’s automated navigation systems, which resulted in him not noticing when the chart plotter malfunctioned and the autopilot steered the vessel away from its plotted course.

​​Overreliance on Automated Navigation Systems

Although modern technology is an asset, it is not infallible. Operator overreliance on, and overconfidence in, technologies like chart plotters and autopilot systems can negatively affect situation awareness. The safety of a vessel underway depends on the crew’s awareness of the vessel’s position and adherence to a voyage plan. Good seamanship requires correlating information from all means of navigation, including satellite, radar, and visual aids to navigation. Operators should ensure crewmembers navigating the vessel are familiar with electronic charting and autopilot steering systems, regularly crosscheck their position, and can recognize when technologies are not functioning as expected so the crewmembers can respond appropriately.