Cornwall Grounding (ship not yacht...)

I tend to agree; what is reported as a 'how daft is that ?' newspiece would seem rather different if one's boat was mown down by these clowns...

What part of the col regs caters for 'seems to be coming straight on, but 'must' turn soon ' ?!

I take it we now assume whoever is on the bridge is trollied, if no answer to the VHF ?!

We don't have the speed to dodge all eventualities, and even the old failsafe of getting into shallow water won't help with this lot !!!
 
Perhaps that's a WNS for Tim: "You are anchored off a secluded beach in Cornwall..." :eek:

It doesn't say if it's any of the same characters involved, but if it is why weren't they arrested rather than being allowed to continue on their way? What will they hit next time and what if it's another ship or even a ferry?

This is exactly where I see the weakness of colregs - it kinda assumes there is an intelligent life form at the helm of the other vessel. In practice it would appear quite likely to be an auto-helm and sleeping watchman. Perhaps these auto-helms should require some form of input at random intervals or power is cut? Say a 3 minute warning which unless acknowledged shuts down the propulsion and emits an automated 'no-one in command' transmisson to VTS?
 
Seems perfectly obvious to me:

1. Navigate to a secluded beach in cornwall
2. Off load cargo of drugs
3. Continue on claiming to have run aground
 
rbcoomer said:
Perhaps that's a WNS for Tim: "You are anchored off a secluded beach in Cornwall..." :eek:

It doesn't say if it's any of the same characters involved, but if it is why weren't they arrested rather than being allowed to continue on their way? What will they hit next time and what if it's another ship or even a ferry?

This is exactly where I see the weakness of colregs - it kinda assumes there is an intelligent life form at the helm of the other vessel. In practice it would appear quite likely to be an auto-helm and sleeping watchman. Perhaps these auto-helms should require some form of input at random intervals or power is cut? Say a 3 minute warning which unless acknowledged shuts down the propulsion and emits an automated 'no-one in command' transmisson to VTS?
Click to expand...


If my billy basic car has got sensors on the bumber to stop me hitting something, couldn't a forward looking sonar take over the autohelm and bring the ship to a stop before it's too late? I would have thought a XTE alarm would be going off as well... unless the guy putting the waypoints in had fat fingers and missed the minor detail of Cornwall sticking out.
 
Boomshanka; I'd agree that should be possible, but what about danger to other ships etc? You would need complex systems to track and avoid moving targets etc as well as submerged hazards.

If there was an alarm that triggered at random intervals when on autopilot and displayed first a light, then an audible warning, there would be no reason that the person on watch wouldn't be able to cancel within a few minutes. If not then it would mean there was no-one on watch and therefore the ship would cut power. If it tried to take evasive action it could result in much more serious consequences - especially if in a constrained channel at the time. Cutting the engines or propulsion wouldn't prevent an accident, but would likely mitigate the consequences.

Sending an automated alert would highlight repeat offenders/slack watch-keeping and allow necessary authorities to either take urgent action (if in a dangerous location) or administer fines/retraining as deemed necessary.
 
I don't think a commercially viable forward looking sonar is available; and after all look at the specially equipped HMS Endurance, basically wrecked after hitting an uncharted rock, and even state of the art submarines run into uncharted obstacles, see below.

I thought there was a sort of 'dead man's handle' alarm, certainly on trawlers, which the OOD has to hit every few minutes to prove he's awake ?

I've been going across the Channel from the French side and had a small coaster in view, both wheelhouse doors open and plainly no-one there.

Before anyone asks, that was before most small boats had VHF, let alone Decca & GPS, but I have a nasty feeling the same happens nowadays, judging by recent events.

I used to visit Portpatrick & surrounding area by road, there was a famous wreck of a fair sized merchant ship just below a lighthouse; they had set a waypoint into the autopilot, then got trollied and the poor ship just carried on as instructed...

This is an example of being very sobre & skilled, but unlucky; a complete opposite of that ship hitting Cornwall ! It does show sonar is not the answer, though of course subs try not to use active 'here I am' transmissions...

Sub_aground3.jpg
 
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There were some great snaps on here a couple of years back(?) of a tanker/container ship passing an offshore platform... missing by only a few metres... clearly nobody on the bridge, full steam ahead on autohelm:eek: I can't find the post anymore, but they were great photos (if you know what I mean)
 
Many years ago, a ship coming out of the Thames on Autopilot hit Southend pier. Master was incapacitated through drink, and other crew were playing cards if I recall correctly.

I believe the ship was carrying a load of sewage "solids"
 
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