Capt Popeye
Well-known member
if you had done even some basic research you would know that there was a helo there and it could not winch due to the conditions. Of course there is an argument that aborting the rescue when they had 4 casualties on board might have saved 12 lives and sacrificed 4. It's a hell of a bit of 20-20 hindsight though and requires you to believe you are better at decision-making than the people involved. I can make every decision easily when I know the outcome of the other options with certainty. The cox also knew with pretty much certainty what would happen if they didn't try.
they don't have lookouts - they have Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres. Your local station may well be managing a rescue at the other end of the country if the nearest facility is busy. Of course sometimes they look out the window - but if you do get a warm reception to your visit, ask them how often they discover situations by looking out the window and how often on VHF, Phone, Fax (AFAIK that's still how EPIRBs are forwarded on!)...
Yes well its all a mater of priorities ,consider what was possible at the time , lots of points (possibily lives) to consider , thats why I consider that the central decision making should not be left to a Cox who is up to His /Her neck in a dramatic constanly changing sittuation
Might suggest that sharing the lifesaving decisions is the best modern course of action
This sharing main considerations should have meant that the Ship was instructed to be taken in tow a long time before the sittuation became far more dangerous then not possible
Dunno if its the law now , but it b/well ought to be