A Question for Sailors

[smstonypoint]

For people who think human's could not make stupid mistakes when operating vessels, take a look at this video. The incident was in daylight, with a professional captain and crew yet they still hit the motor boat even though they had plenty of time to avoid a collision. I never read in any of the long discussions of this incident that crew fatigue or environmental conditions played a part in the collision.

<snip>

The motor boat owner had gone below to go to the bathroom and let the auto pilot hold course. There was no one else on board. I read that eventually the motor boat owner was found 40% at fault and the ferry captain was 60%. In vessel collisions, blame is almost always put on both crews.

Later,
Dan

How would you have ruled on this case given the video evidence?

Steve

 

[dmccarty]

That boat owner must have really had the *****!!

Before or after he met the ferry? :shocked::confused3::laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

How would you have ruled on this case given the video evidence?

Steve

10-20% small boat and 80-90% for the ferry.

The small boat was the stand on vessel, they were not operating in an area where the ferry had any special privileges, so the ferry was the give way vessel. The ferry should have realized much earlier that they were in a crossing situation and slowed down, changed course, etc but they did not. The small boat was not maintaining a proper watch and did not try to avoid the ferry so he shares the blame for the collision.

Later,
Dan

 

[ch1ch2]

I am not a sailor, I had a 18' sail boat for many years on a local lake.
I always thought boats under sail had right of way then ships, then smaller.
Basically the boat that was least able to maneuver had right of way.

Based on my lack of knowledge, the little boat was entirely wrong.

 

[bcp]

Amalgamated Navigation Rules

Bruce

 

[/pine]

Rules of the Road Summarized

Rules of the Road Summarized - BoatSafe.com

 

[turnkey4099]

unless there is an obvious mechanical reason for either of the recent collisions...it could be a long, long, long time if the public ever actually learns the truth...

The official navy report of the accident and its causes are usualy available within a year. Up to each person to decide if they believe it.

 

[smstonypoint]

10-20% small boat and 80-90% for the ferry.

The small boat was the stand on vessel, they were not operating in an area where the ferry had any special privileges, so the ferry was the give way vessel. The ferry should have realized much earlier that they were in a crossing situation and slowed down, changed course, etc but they did not. The small boat was not maintaining a proper watch and did not try to avoid the ferry so he shares the blame for the collision.

Later,
Dan

That sounds reasonable to me.

How close would you guess that the pleasure vessel was to the ferry as the "potty mouth" started recording? My guess is less than 100 yards. The only evidence I see (hear) that the ferry captain did anything was to sound his horn and judging by prop wash, reverse engine(s) near the time of the collision.

Steve

 

[Garandman]

I am not a sailor, I had a 18' sail boat for many years on a local lake.
I always thought boats under sail had right of way then ships, then smaller.
Basically the boat that was least able to maneuver had right of way.

Based on my lack of knowledge, the little boat was entirely wrong.

There are other factors that may come into play, such as the general category of "Vessels limited in their ability to maneuver."

A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

If the ferry was in a dredged channel to the landing, for example, the pleasure boat would be obliged to keep clear. Without knowing what waters they are in, not sure how you can decide the ferry is at fault.

The pros who operate the ferries, pilot boats, harbor cruise boats etc. have seen us and taken action to avoid us long in advance. It's the other pleasure boaters you can't be sure about.

 

[3930dave]

This is the large-island collision I posted about earlier....

Ferry officer Karl Lilgert given 4 years in jail over Queen of the North sinking | CTV News

2 people died, and last I heard, the ferry was never recovered.

Rgds, D.