Condor ferry crew to stand trial for death of French fisherman

[Cruiser2B]

Would a ferry or any ship for that matter hear a hand held fog signal?

Genuine question - I had always assumed that there was little change of a ship hearing let alone having chance to change course if it did

Yes, but they have to be listening. On a quiet bridge with doors/windows open, it is amazing what you can hear - I've heard bells on buoys at 2-3 miles, and they're not nearly as loud as a decent airhorn.
As I said the rowboat should sound the signal frequently until it is clear that the danger is past.

 

[bedouin]

Yes, but they have to be listening. On a quiet bridge with doors/windows open, it is amazing what you can hear - I've heard bells on buoys at 2-3 miles, and they're not nearly as loud as a decent airhorn.
As I said the rowboat should sound the signal frequently until it is clear that the danger is past.

Even over the noise of the engines at 37 knots?

 

[Cruiser2B]

Even over the noise of the engines at 37 knots?

I can't speak to the Incat ferries, but I reckon they're not likely noisier than the gas turbine-powered ships I'm used to - the forecastle is remarkably quiet at full power.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Would a ferry or any ship for that matter hear a hand held fog signal?

I assume that the bridge of any large cargo ship is understaffed by a single drunkard with forged qualifications who is almost or actually asleep as a result of working illegal numbers of hours, and plan accordingly.

 

[Mariner69]

Wise words or an attempted troll?

 

[Uricanejack]

Would a ferry or any ship for that matter hear a hand held fog signal?

Genuine question - I had always assumed that there was little change of a ship hearing let alone having chance to change course if it did

Yes. If they have a lookout posted. Open door. The fully enclosed modern air conditioned full width with no wing and chiars at center console. Pehalps not. The do have external mikes to pick up sound signals if turned on.
At least for the air can ones. Not so sure about the little party trumpet. I had on a small boat I used to sail.

When I have traveled on local ferry. They have a junior rating out on the fore deck in fog.
Wouldn't bet on container ships doing the same.
Never been on a fast cat ferry.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Wise words or an attempted troll?

Was that about my post? It wasn't a troll, and others can judge if it was wise. Note that I know that few ships are actually being run by drunken incompetents, but the cautious assumption keeps me safe from those that are, at the cost of dodging the others a bit more than I need to. It's just over a year since a cargo vessel came up the Firth of Clyde under autopilot alone with the Chief Officer asleep in his bed and ran spang into the south end of Bute.

http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2013/coastal_isle.cfm

 

[Uricanejack]

I assume that the bridge of any large cargo ship is understaffed by a single drunkard with forged qualifications who is almost or actually asleep as a result of working illegal numbers of hours, and plan accordingly.

+1. Assume the worst and be pleasantly surprised. Rather than the other way around.

 

[Uricanejack]

Agree with most of your other comments but on two occasions now I've easily heard the Condor as a loud roar at > two miles range in fog.

Is a fog horn really louder than the Condor itself?

I don't know. an interesting point.

I live overlooking a channel frequently used by sorts of commercial vessels. I can generally tell well ahead of seeing them come out from behind the trees by the sounds of the engines. On occasions I can hear ferry whistles as they transit the pass or leave a dock even though it’s at least 10 miles away.
When out sailing I hear Ferries, Ships and tugs miles away, when I am on a power vessel with a dies engine I don’t. I’ve never heard a Condor so I can’t relate to the sound of one. I suspect what I can hear from my sailing boat or canoe. Might be entirely different inside the wheel house of a working fishing vessel. I can hear whistles inside a wheel house of a mobo. Might be due to the similarity of the diesel sounds I don’t notice other vessel engine noise when it’s obviously loud at other times. While a whistle is a contrasting noise.

 

[Mariner69]

........the cautious assumption keeps me safe from those that are....

Then wise words indeed. The cautious assumption is the safest bet.

Drunkenness on watch is not common in my experience over the past four decades. But, many years ago, when sailing as Second Officer (with a new Master Mariners FGN ticket in hand) on a Cape Sized bulk carrier. My relief, the Chief Officer, was carried on to the bridge by four white crew (many of our ships had Indian/Pakistani/Zulu crews) and dumped there on the deck in a drunken stupor. My watch became extended by four hours until relieved by the Third Officer. If it had not been white crew then he would have remained in his pit with the native crewman advising that he was ill with food poisoning or similar and I would have never known. The white crew were laughing and assumed he would actually be allowed to take over the watch. Passing through the crowded fishing grounds off Mauretania at the time!

No chance but modern bridges do make it easy to fall asleep.

 

[guernseyman]

The Guernsey Press reports today that the French prosecutor has appealed against the sentences of the captain and first officer, asking for prison sentences of one year and six months, respectively.

 

[prv]

Drunkenness on watch is not common in my experience over the past four decades.

I'm sure it's not common overall, but it definitely still happens:

http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/KWaveReport.pdf
http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/KarinSchepers.pdf

(Just a couple of examples I could easily find; I've read a number of others. Russian or Ukrainian officers seems to be a common thread.)

Pete

 

[Way]

The Guernsey Press reports today that the French prosecutor has appealed against the sentences of the captain and first officer, asking for prison sentences of one year and six months, respectively.

Cannot tell you how much I wish this appeal is upheld and they actually serve some time.

They were going too fast
They missed a blip on the radar screen

....when will commercial skippers be forced to take responsiblity for their awful decisions and seamenship. How can you kill someone by making terrible, life-changing/taking decisions and get a suspended sentence? There is absolutely no excuse.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-24286069

 

[Mariner69]

....when will commercial skippers be forced to take responsiblity for their awful decisions and seamenship. How can you kill someone by making terrible, life-changing/taking decisions and get a suspended sentence? There is absolutely no excuse.

I trust you will agree that this should apply equally to leisure boat skippers and crew and of course government vessels.

 

[Way]

I trust you will agree that this should apply equally to leisure boat skippers and crew and of course government vessels.

Of course
My point is you cannot sink people's boats (Nedlloyd Vespucci/Whakuna) or kill people (this incident + Pride of Bilbao) and not expect serious punishment. If you do rediculous speeds in a huge vessel in fog and kill someone expect a prison term. Maybe even have the decency and maturity to plead guilty and except it too. Maybe I'm too idealistic