nct1
Well-Known Member
But I did read it, including the bits that stated that several of the pyrotechnics failed ! (see pages 27 and 39).
What also struck me was that tank inspections were not always possible, because of the gas in the tanks. But there were the crew firing flare rockets which burned until they landed, am I right in thinking that a tanker with ruptured tanks is no environment to be landing buring pyrotechnics ?
And if they were in their life rafts in a sea of oil (as they were) surely lighting any kind of flare is a bit iffy to say the least.
The survivors may not have thought they were particularly lucky, but it could have been a lot worse....
I kinda think that is why the recommendations centred around the safer automated distress signal systems rather than a fire based one.
With respect to the cost effective argument, I'm not so convinced, a "coastal pack" which only has two red rocket flares will set you back £100. It appears on average flares cost about £25 each, and the Texas Oklahoma report suggested that they were replaced every 3 years. How many flares will you need ? If you need 3-4 per ship you see, and the first 3 don't see them anyway (let's take the TO example), you are going to need to replace several hundred pounds worth.
Sure for bumbling about in the Solent you may not need as many, but I suspect in many inshore cases, all that will happen is someone will call 999, something you could have done quicker and safer with your mobile, or DSC red button in the first place.
The "it might not work" argument still applies to flares, you mitigate by introducing redundancy as do the aircraft and IT industries to name but 2.
Refueler, I wish you well, and hope neither of us has to use our first or second choice of emergency communications equipment, you and the Texas Oklahoma report have made me think for sure, and it has made me think through all the worse case scenarios and has given me my strategy for each of them, but it has re-inforced my inclination to switch from flares.
As you say, they have served many sailors well over the years, but for me it is time to move on to the next generation of comms.
What also struck me was that tank inspections were not always possible, because of the gas in the tanks. But there were the crew firing flare rockets which burned until they landed, am I right in thinking that a tanker with ruptured tanks is no environment to be landing buring pyrotechnics ?
And if they were in their life rafts in a sea of oil (as they were) surely lighting any kind of flare is a bit iffy to say the least.
The survivors may not have thought they were particularly lucky, but it could have been a lot worse....
I kinda think that is why the recommendations centred around the safer automated distress signal systems rather than a fire based one.
With respect to the cost effective argument, I'm not so convinced, a "coastal pack" which only has two red rocket flares will set you back £100. It appears on average flares cost about £25 each, and the Texas Oklahoma report suggested that they were replaced every 3 years. How many flares will you need ? If you need 3-4 per ship you see, and the first 3 don't see them anyway (let's take the TO example), you are going to need to replace several hundred pounds worth.
Sure for bumbling about in the Solent you may not need as many, but I suspect in many inshore cases, all that will happen is someone will call 999, something you could have done quicker and safer with your mobile, or DSC red button in the first place.
The "it might not work" argument still applies to flares, you mitigate by introducing redundancy as do the aircraft and IT industries to name but 2.
Refueler, I wish you well, and hope neither of us has to use our first or second choice of emergency communications equipment, you and the Texas Oklahoma report have made me think for sure, and it has made me think through all the worse case scenarios and has given me my strategy for each of them, but it has re-inforced my inclination to switch from flares.
As you say, they have served many sailors well over the years, but for me it is time to move on to the next generation of comms.
