Originally Posted By: desolation
Good thing no one thought to use a tool or some such to open the locked box. You'd think it would be easy enough to get the binoculars out. Seem like they were sort of important....


I think it reflects the hierarchical structure. For anyone but the uppermost senior officers, taking an initiative like that would probably put your job at risk. Destroying company's property is not part of a young merchant marine officers job description...


I like to think the world has moved forward and that today, forgetting the key to essential navigation and safety equipment would not be such a show stopper. The "American key" (a.k.a. big fire axe) would be found and used PDQ.