COLREGS for seaplanes?

[Suffolk_Newbie]

Who’s at fault in this case? I suspect that it’s the motorboat but do COLREGS apply to Seaplanes?

 

[jbweston]

. . . but do COLREGS apply to Seaplanes?

Yes. Rule 18(e) says

A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their
navigation. In circumstances, however, where risk of collision exists, she shall comply with the Rules of
this Part.

'This Part' is Part B, the Steering and Sailing Rules.

The vid is short and it's hard to tell if the boat altered course into the seaplane's path, but at first sight it looks like the boat was the stand-on vessel.

 

[ylop]

If you hunt hard enough - you’ll find threads when it happened. I seem to recall it’s a bit more complicated because there is a big sea plane operation there and restricted areas where planes have special priorities and vessel/air traffic services controlling movements.

 

[benjenbav]

If you hunt hard enough - you’ll find threads when it happened. I seem to recall it’s a bit more complicated because there is a big sea plane operation there and restricted areas where planes have special priorities and vessel/air traffic services controlling movements.

That video was from a while back and - as you say - there’s at least one long thread on here about it and there are indeed local port rules for that location (Coal Harbour, Vancouver).

Without going back over the rules issues I just wanted to say that I have flown in a seaplane in that very place and I enjoyed the experIence enormously. Particularly the landing, when masses of water whoosh up on both sides of the seaplane.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

There is a seaplane that flys into Jura, Loch Na Mile, Craighouse. It is always interesting to see it land and take off and at times it gets quite close to yachts manoeuvring about the Loch.

 

[oldgit]

The Medway has two Seaplane landing areas marked on the chart, have seen them in use.

 

[Refueler]

Of course the ColRegs apply generally - but subject to Local Rules precribing Landing / Take-off areas that should be avoided by other craft.

Without checking any previous threads or online about this incident ... and using only the short video in OP. The MoBo is crossing the path of the Seaplane ... you can see its wake - line .... the Seaplane appears to be on its take-off run ... (or maybe landing run)

So the question in my mind .. is the MoBo helmsman so stupid as to cross the path of a Seaplane taking off .. or landing ???

 

[The Q]

I read the accident reports on another forum, some time back, it was the motorboater at fault for crossing the landing zone without keeping a good look out and avoiding the aircraft.

With the nose up attitude of the aircraft the motorboat was unseen.

 

[westernman]

If I remember right, there is an area here reserved for seaplane use which boats should avoid using unless necessary.
But to get out of one particular marina/mooring area it is necessary to cross the reserved area.

In which case, I believe the motorboat was not in a forbidden area and was the stand on craft.

However, COLREGS also says then even the stand on craft should make all efforts to avoid a collision when the other craft was not taking sufficient action to avoid a collision.

But almost certainly there are local rules which basically say boats should keep out of the way of sea planes. And in any case was, there seems to have been a lack of look out on the boat and the boat failed to take any action at all.

But yes, COLREGS do apply to sea planes.

 

[Plum]

The Medway has two Seaplane landing areas marked on the chart, have seen them in use.

Eeek, I had not seen those before and can't find them on my charts. Where are they?