commercial tow

[Guest]

On my return from Portsmouth, call to solent coastguard from another small craft with failed engine . Coastguard wanted VHF licence No. And would only offer a commercial tow . When would RNLI come out & would they charge if you run out of fuel.Or how much for a commercial tow?

 

[kimhollamby]

Mark, I'm v interested in this. Was out off Langstone Harbour in September and wound up towing a sportsboat off the East Winner after the Coastguard called for any vessels in the area to assist. Have heard these calls before and responded once before but never heard the offer of a commercial tow.

How much would it cost? Potentially a percentage of your boat's value (measured by court against difficulty of operation and state of boat after tow) if fee wasn't agreed in advance and towing boat claimed salvage; certainly wouldn't be cheap. Wonder if this is a slow move towards the French system where the rescue services charge for attendance?

Any more instances known about, please report here.

 

[byron]

This commercial tow harks back to the late 70s. People were calling up HMCG and saying they needed a tow. Lifeboats were being launched only to find that it wasn't an emergency it was a matter of someone having run out of fuel. In one instance I was despatched by Calshot Coastguard to a vessel only to find that he had "run out of wind" and felt he couldn't go fast enough on his engine to beat the tide in time to make a dinner date.
The then D.O. took a concious decision to establish if a tow warranted the classification 'emergency' if not then a commercial tow would be the answer. The cost of the tow would be a matter of negotiation between the two parties.
Contrary to what most people believe the RNLI receive a payment from HMCG each time they are launched.
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[kimhollamby]

Byron, the interesting thing hear is that, in countless hours of listening to VHF Ch16/67 it's the first time I've specifically heard offer of a commercial tow to a leisure boat. How much are RNLI paid?

 

[Geoffs]

Most unusual for the Coastguard to take such a stance. In my experience they bend over backwards to try a get help for a stricken vessel. Only last Sunday I went to the assistance of a broken down boat off Boscombe. He had no VHF and called Portland on his mobile, Portland put out an ‘All Stations’ request for assistance on Ch16.

Usually, I think the coastguard will only offer commercial tow if there is no response to requests for help from ‘fellows’. Presumably RNLI will only be called on if life, or possibly property, are in danger. I guess the MCA are under no obligation to try and arrange ‘private’ assistance, and can just say ‘commercial tow, like it or lump it’!

 

[byron]

I am totally out of touch with what the cost is. I do know that in the late 70s the charge for the Navy Helicopters out of Daedelus was something like £400 per hour.
I do know that salvage cannot be claimed under these circumstances and even if it were claimable amount received is entire dependent on various factors i.e. the danger the rescuer put themselves in, the expertise used etc. etc. As a
further matter of interest the RNLI do not claim salvage by their own rules. The Coxswain can save the souls, having landed the casualties they can re-launch and attempt to save the vessel. In which case they (the crew) are responsible for all fuel used and any damage occasioned to the Lifeboat.

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[jfm]

Re: funding of RNLI

Byron is that definitely true, that RNLI are paid by HMCG? In other words are you saying RNLI is not funded entirely by voluntary donations (as they claim) but by the taxpayer?

Re commercial tow, I agree with others that I've never heard CG offer a commercial tow, but have often heard them organise other vessels nearby to help and heard them say such and such a lifeboat is being launched, even when it sounds like not a massive life threatening problem

 

[Guest]

I have never heard Clyde Coastguard offer a commercial tow in 20 years of listening. I have heard them appeal for another boat to perform a towing service and, indeed have responded to such instances myself. On one occasion a yacht had tacked a little too far going through the narrows at Kyles of Bute in very light winds and bounced over rocks into a sort of pool. His engine was u/s and he need help to get him back into the channel by slotting his keel through gaps in the rocks - an interesting exercise.

On another occasion, I attended and towed off Wemyss Bay pier a yacht, again with engine failure which had dragged her anchor onto the pier in southerly 6/7 and was slowly self destructing through being hurled against the pier. Interestingly, when I think about that
a) it was an emergency as there were people aboard with no real means of getting off safely
b) Largs inshore lifeboat is stationed less than 10 miles away and could have covered the distance probably in say 30 mins.

To be honest the thought of looking for money for helping out a fellow boater in this way did'nt really cross my mind and, frankly, I find the idea a bit repugnant - it just seems to me to rub salt into the wounds of someone who is already had a bad time. I do however appreciate the pure cheek of someone summonsing to emergency services to get him to a dinner on time but maybe that needs a different solution and a commercial tow in these circumstances may be appropriate, not to mention some kind of fine.

Nick

 

[byron]

Re: funding of RNLI

I have been an Auxiliary Coastguard for over a quarter of a century. In that time I have done more than my fair share of tows and never taken a penny. If there is no danger to life or limb one's first option is to find a vessel local assistance say in the form of a fellow yachtsman. The other option is a commercial tow. If there is danger to life or limb it is a legal requirement for other vessels to render assistance. If they are in a position to do so. (Merchant Shipping Act)
As regards the RNLI receiving launch monies from HMCG. What they get would never pay for the service but every little helps.

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[jfm]

Re: funding of RNLI

Very political answer if I may say. Praps you've been trained by Paxman??

 

[byron]

Re: funding of RNLI

I have the utmost respect for Lifeboat Crews indeed some of my best friends are Lifeboatmen. I have an equal regard for those lovely people who collect on their behalf. I wouldn't dare print here my opinions of the guys at the top though.

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[Guest]

Further commercial tow .The incident was last Sunday in the Solent 1 Mile off Langstone harbour. I was monitoring ch 16 when a call went out from a single engine motor vessel saying they thought they were out of fuel even though the gauges were showing fuel.
The CG asked for their VHF licence No. Vessel didn't have one skipper made excuses . He then asked if had spare fuel answer no. CG asked if there was any vessels nearby . Skipper was trying to attract vessels nearby . All the CG would offer at this time was a commercial tow .
The outcome seemed that a nearby vessel had some fuel onboard ,but this was not the problem and they wre towed back to port by the the helping vessel. Don't know what the arrangement was . Stranded vessel did inform CG he had arranged tow .
My opinion was that CG was reluctant to offer RNLI services initially . also not happy about not having radio licence.