Looks like this site is reloaded from archive since a discussion started on this topic and now you're an original poster on it.
VERY embarrassing to read, indeed. In one sense, conning a vessel isn't rocket science/heart surgery, but in the sense of the downside of poor performance, IT IS. I don't want my airline flight piloted by somebody with 2000 hours of experience in Flight Simulator. This SHOULD say we exceeded the limits of computer based training.
Before the earlier thread I mentioned got dropped, along with all the other recent stuff, I mentioned my disdain for On-Line Boating Classes.
Anyhow, I can only figure the ability to have Helm at Station A, Port Engine at Station B, and Starboard Engine at Station C could have been based on the idea of redundancy in cases of personnel casualties or battle damage or system failures. Also, sometimes we build a system with unintended consequences. Newly commissioned Coast Guard ship, it's winter and the heat went out. Circulating hot/chilled water system. Took hours to find the circulating water was in the bilge not the system. Somehow it drained through a small dishwasher in a little kitchenette called the Wardroom Pantry. What Were They Thinking? Dunno, but it wasn't on the Troubleshooting Decision Tree...
