"Last Call" accident report published

Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

Thanks for the link.

[ QUOTE ]
...as Last Call approached the harbour entrance, there were plenty of cues which should have alerted the crew to the conditions they were about to face, and persuaded them to turn back. That they failed to react to these cues reflects a naïve ignorance of the effect the sea conditions would have...

[/ QUOTE ]

Sums it up for me. Everthing else is irrelevant. Such a tragic loss of life, just for 'over-cooking it' on your second trip out.... How many of us have gone out in conditions that we were concerned about, only to get scared (w/sh)itless and resolve to be more careful in future?

Must have been heart-breaking for the knowledgeable observers watching the situation develop, too.

Very sad.

Andy
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

I think one of the key lessons here is to seek local advice before setting forth- and to heed it. A quick converstion with the HM or another boater before setting out could have prevented the tragedy. We worth doing if you're unfamiliar with the area.
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

An awful tragedy. It's a matter of "human factors". Sadly a quite unbelievable error of judgement. The whole RCD thing in the report and CE is an irrelevant red herring imho. No vessel design or category would voluntarily have left that harbour in those conditions, not even an inexperienced novice, and even a Cat A vessel would have been in trouble in the hands of inexperienced crew.

For me the key thing in the report is the VHF issue and that all vessels and crews should as per SOLAS monitor ch16 at all times. Neither CE nor RCD say anything about signage at the helm to that effect (eg. "Monitor VHF ch16 at all times"). In this case I don't know if it would have effected the outcome. Well done the brave RNLI crew who risked their lives in such severe conditions.
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

[ QUOTE ]
An awful tragedy. It's a matter of "human factors". Sadly a quite unbelievable error of judgement. The whole RCD thing in the report and CE is an irrelevant red herring imho. No vessel design or category would voluntarily have left that harbour in those conditions, not even an inexperienced novice, and even a Cat A vessel would have been in trouble in the hands of inexperienced crew.

[/ QUOTE ]
Totally agree, but I can't even contemplate further criticism of those onboard. They paid the ultimate price for their error of judgement and the account and photos of their demise from the MAIB report has actually quite disturbed me. Such a needless, tragic loss of life and one we should not forget.
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

I've only glanced through the report but I am surprised the MAIB has not suggested compulsory training - or did I miss it? One can't help but feel that with a little more knowledge, this tragic incident would have been avoided.

And before forumites start shouting at me, I am not suggesting (driver) licensing, this is an observation only.

Shorn
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

[ QUOTE ]
I've only glanced through the report but I am surprised the MAIB has not suggested compulsory training - or did I miss it? One can't help but feel that with a little more knowledge, this tragic incident would have been avoided.

And before forumites start shouting at me, I am not suggesting (driver) licensing, this is an observation only.

Shorn

[/ QUOTE ]

[Groan]. Perhaps because the MAIB actually does realise that you don't achieve an end simply by wishing for it. Of course it's bloody obvious that the accident wouldn't have happened if the skipper had received adequate training. However, it is also quite likely that this accident, in scientific terms, was a "singularity". Have you heard the saying "hard cases make bad law"?
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

Horrible story. Remember it on the news at the time. It is unbelievable that they would go out, given the chap had a boat before. It's just a catalog of errors, poor bouyancy devices, no radio monitoring, you name it. It must have been truly horrific.

Sorry story. Spooky name for the boat too...just horrid..

T
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

Tragic and as Magnum says they paid the ultimate price. I feel so sorry for the loss suffered by one family.

I have always been against compulsory training but that belief is now in danger of being changed after this tragic loss and a story I just heard about a boater I know and his tactic in fog.

This boater claimed that in thick fog he has a far better way than having crew at the bow listening and travelling slowy - he reckons its best to head out to see at full speed (30 knots) were there are fewer boat and then line up the harbour entrance on his chart plotter and run straight in at full speed!!! He actually advocated this technique to a friend as a way of beating all the other boats back into port!! He has no radar.

I feel so disturbed about this that if I ever meet him again I am going to have to have a word with him about it.

IF a compulsory licence did improve safety I would back it but I am still not convinced it would.

When my son trained to be a helicopter pilot he opted for extra courses and was shown the graphic horror of what happens when people walk into rotors etc. Maybe if these poor souls he paid the ultimate price had been show what can happen and in particular some more information about local conditions they would still be alive. I do not know the answer.
 
Re: \"Last Call\" accident report published

[ QUOTE ]
He actually advocated this technique to a friend

[/ QUOTE ]That's instigation to crime in my book.
If nothing else, a compulsory licence would have the advantage that it could be suspended to gentlemen thinking along these lines.
Suspended for 50 years or so, I mean.
 
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