Boating Accident

[David of Essex]

A fellow boater from our marina had an accident today at ‘’swallow tail’’ on the entrance to the river Crouch Essex. It would seem he hit the sand banks at speed, as a consequence a passenger was thrown down to the saloon area, the boat is a Prestige 38s. The RNLI assisted and the boat and people were brought back to the marina, a helicopter had to be called to take the injured person away, not sure how serious the injuries are.
This is a lesson to us all, should the door to the lower saloon be kept close when under way and should we ask passengers to remain seated. I ‘am guilty of all with a small fly bridge boat.

David

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

A fellow boater from our marina had an accident today at ‘’swallow tail’’ on the entrance to the river Crouch Essex. It would seem he hit the sand banks at speed, as a consequence a passenger was thrown down to the saloon area, the boat is a Prestige 38s. The RNLI assisted and the boat and people were brought back to the marina, a helicopter had to be called to take the injured person away, not sure how serious the injuries are.
This is a lesson to us all, should the door to the lower saloon be kept close when under way and should we ask passengers to remain seated. I ‘am guilty of all with a small fly bridge boat.

David

A valid point to discuss, BUT, IMHO, IMHO....i would start by jumping on the helmsperson for lack of attention, eg. driving without due care etc,...to follow your point to the end, i for 1 DO NOT N WILL NOT slip my mooring with a boat full of HEALTH N SAFETY POLICE !!!!!!!!!

 

[Litotes]

This is a lesson to us all, should the door to the lower saloon be kept close when under way and should we ask passengers to remain seated.
David

I would take a rather different lesson - pay attention to where you are going - especially at speed. With all the new buoyage in the channels leading into the Crouch, I find it quite hard to imagine why this boat should have driven straight into the Swallowtail bank. There was mist about on Saturday, but poor visibility (if it was so) is certainly no excuse for reckless navigation.

I hope the injured person makes a good recovery.

 

[davidfox]

I would take a rather different lesson - pay attention to where you are going - especially at speed. With all the new buoyage in the channels leading into the Crouch, I find it quite hard to imagine why this boat should have driven straight into the Swallowtail bank. There was mist about on Saturday, but poor visibility (if it was so) is certainly no excuse for reckless navigation.

I hope the injured person makes a good recovery.

Hi I was out then and heard the call, the vis was ok, it was Sunday about low tide, the guy said that his chart showed 'clear water' all round and that he had been doing 22 kts at the time.

 

[tillergirl]

Yes but when was the chart last updated? Did it have this summer's revisions?

Would be interesting to know where he struck, not from a 'let's throw things at him point of view' but in case there are some changes we all need to know about. Anybody know?

 

[David of Essex]

Was it the chart or chart plotter he was reading from?.

 

[Litotes]

Hi I was out then and heard the call, the vis was ok, it was Sunday about low tide, the guy said that his chart showed 'clear water' all round and that he had been doing 22 kts at the time.

Then perhaps the lesson the OP might want us to draw is that we should do as some of us (oldies) have always done and look around us rather than keeping our eyes glued to a chart plotter. Those channels are very clearly marked these days, even if the new buoyage hasn't yet turned up on the plotter chart. It is usually possible to see the edge of the Swallowtail as well, in many places, even if it isn't uncovered. Simply looking at the water surface often pays, although I suppose that isn't so easy at 22 knots.

 

[Searush]

Words fail me, rocks don't move, but sandbanks do & every year in some cases. The chart on the plotter has to be at least 2 years out of date, but it's probably more likely to be 10 years since the survey was done that its charts are based on.

Why do people go so fast around hazards? I've even seen it on the Lakes where a boat rammed a wall while zooming thro an area popular with swimmers.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

Low tide on Sunday was a spring tide, one of the lowest this year. Did he take this into account I wonder? Just to say, I hope all are ok.

 

[Searush]

Perhaps he thought the blue bits were shallow water?

 

[tillergirl]

but it's probably more likely to be 10 years since the survey was done that its charts are based on.
.

Sorry, wrong, the Outer Crouch was comprehensively surveyed in 2010 and rebuoyed with (I think it was) 16 new buoys in July this year. New Admiralty and Imray charts (paper reprint and download to their electronic chart) have been issued. Don't know about updates to other electrickery charts but the information is out there - unless it's changed significantly since 2010 which is possible I suppose - hence my question.

 

[exfinnsailor]

The Crouch Harbour Authority NOTICE TO MARINERS No 4 of 2010

Swallow Tail Bank / Ron Pipe Buoy – Shoaling and Encroachment into Channel
Following recent hydrographic surveying of the Whitaker Channel and the area of the Swallow Tail Bank it is clear that the Swallow Tail Bank is shoaling and is extending both in an east and west direction. In particular the passage between the Swallow Tail Bank and the Buxey Sand is narrowing in the vicinity of the Ron Pipe Buoy (SWM, unlit). The channel remains deep however with at least 4.00m depth at LAT.
The edge of the Swallow Tail bank in this location is extremely steep, with shoal/drying areas close south of the deep channel.
It is intended to carry out an overhaul to buoyage in the near future. However pending that work being undertaken mariners are advised as follows:
If passing Ron Pipe Buoy to the south (ie between it and the Swallow Tail Bank), to do so at a close distance to the Ron Pipe Buoy and to monitor depth sounders carefully. Do not allow your vessel to be set southward onto the Swallow Tail Bank.
Mark Wakelin
Harbour Master
14th July 2010

Don't suppose anyone will ever know what happened. Be worth going back to the same spot ( If you can find it ) and having a look whats there. Its got to be very shallow in that area and as its just being re-bouyed it should be safe. We only travel around at 5 knots and it's a bit of a shock when the long dangly thing hits the mud

..

 

[[2068]]

... more likely to be 10 years since the survey was done that its charts are based on.

10 YEARS???

I'd give my right arm for survey data in the Eastern Solent that was only 10 years old. Most of it was last surveyed by Horatio Hornblower and his mates.

 

[Paddingtonbear]

This was no accident, just a lunartic showing off - 22 knots up a river?

 

[Supine Being]

The Crouch Harbour Authority NOTICE TO MARINERS No 4 of 2010

Swallow Tail Bank / Ron Pipe Buoy – Shoaling and Encroachment into Channel
Following recent hydrographic surveying of the Whitaker Channel and the area of the Swallow Tail Bank it is clear that the Swallow Tail Bank is shoaling and is extending both in an east and west direction. In particular the passage between the Swallow Tail Bank and the Buxey Sand is narrowing in the vicinity of the Ron Pipe Buoy (SWM, unlit). The channel remains deep however with at least 4.00m depth at LAT.
The edge of the Swallow Tail bank in this location is extremely steep, with shoal/drying areas close south of the deep channel.
It is intended to carry out an overhaul to buoyage in the near future. However pending that work being undertaken mariners are advised as follows:
If passing Ron Pipe Buoy to the south (ie between it and the Swallow Tail Bank), to do so at a close distance to the Ron Pipe Buoy and to monitor depth sounders carefully. Do not allow your vessel to be set southward onto the Swallow Tail Bank.
Mark Wakelin
Harbour Master
14th July 2010
..

The promised work on buoyage was actually carried out last summer, and as you can see from the link, the Swallowtail is actually very well marked now.

http://crouchharbour.org.uk/documents/1307563193.pdf

However, that wouldn't count for much if the skipper was unaware of the new buoyage and didn't have it on his charts or plotter.

 

[David of Essex]

The Crouch Harbour Authority NOTICE TO MARINERS No 4 of 2010

Swallow Tail Bank / Ron Pipe Buoy – Shoaling and Encroachment into Channel
Following recent hydrographic surveying of the Whitaker Channel and the area of the Swallow Tail Bank it is clear that the Swallow Tail Bank is shoaling and is extending both in an east and west direction. In particular the passage between the Swallow Tail Bank and the Buxey Sand is narrowing in the vicinity of the Ron Pipe Buoy (SWM, unlit). The channel remains deep however with at least 4.00m depth at LAT.
The edge of the Swallow Tail bank in this location is extremely steep, with shoal/drying areas close south of the deep channel.
It is intended to carry out an overhaul to buoyage in the near future. However pending that work being undertaken mariners are advised as follows:
If passing Ron Pipe Buoy to the south (ie between it and the Swallow Tail Bank), to do so at a close distance to the Ron Pipe Buoy and to monitor depth sounders carefully. Do not allow your vessel to be set southward onto the Swallow Tail Bank.
Mark Wakelin
Harbour Master
14th July 2010

Don't suppose anyone will ever know what happened. Be worth going back to the same spot ( If you can find it ) and having a look whats there. Its got to be very shallow in that area and as its just being re-bouyed it should be safe. We only travel around at 5 knots and it's a bit of a shock when the long dangly thing hits the mud

..

Thank you worth noting.
David

 

[omega2]

As stated huge spring tide, low water, = no water, speed is the last thing you need, town and country tyres could help, but the mark one eyeball is best. This will give clue as what you are aiming at, clear to see there aint no water.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

It's always a clue when you can see the seagulls standing up!

 

[neale]

Why do people go so fast around hazards?

Around this neck of the woods that would mean never going fast. Have you seen a chart of the Thames estuary and surrounding areas? Now I know to you never going fast wouldn't be a problem, but for others who have a boat designed for it, it is. Obviously in this area it just needs lots of care, unfortunately it looks like more than was used in this case.

This was no accident, just a lunartic showing off - 22 knots up a river?

Not necessarily a lunartic (sic), or showing off. I regularly travel around this area at speeds up to 30 knots. It is acceptable, not against any rules, and perfectly safe if done with knowledge and care. In this case it was probably a lack of one or both of the latter two.

 

[Litotes]

However, that wouldn't count for much if the skipper was unaware of the new buoyage and didn't have it on his charts or plotter.

Calm day, good visibility - even if the buoys aren't on the charts or plotter they really should impinge on the retinas of anyone who is keeping a reasonable lookout.

Sounds very much like another "plotter assisted accident".