A skipper’s thoughts on the Fitzgerald

Erm...the good Captain is wrong -- the Crystal was the stand-on vessel, not the Fitz. The Fitz was the give-way vessel. Additionally, international maritime law REQUIRES lookouts on all bridges, everywhere, so the Captain's assertion that they sometimes don't use them is only true if a given captain is allowing his crew to break the law. Which is certainly possible. But the idea that there was NO ONE on the bridge of the Crystal is preposterous.

https://www.boat-ed.com/nasbla_nav_rul/studyGuide/Identifying-Give-Way-and-Stand-On-Vessels/182099_700071100/