Safety Numbers?

[BarryH]

Reading through this post one thing has been left out, namely common sense. My boat was built before all this RCD and CE mark stuff before the nanny states started controling our lives.
I went out at the weekend with a friend of the wifes onboard along with her kids. Now its on;y a 21 footer. So with me and the wife our kids and her and her 2 kids I'd say that was the max thats I'd like to go to. All the kids were little'uns, so didn't wiegh too much. But kids want to move about more than adults. So the four of them were more than enough. Also limited myself to the sheltered waters of Poole with them. Four adults would be my self imposed max.

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[BrendanS]

Completely agree!

Mine, similar size is CE marked for 6 persons. I might do that for a short trip in flat water, but wouldn't take that number for a cruise. If I was going to take 6 for a distance, I think I would only go if the majority were boaters.

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[lyc]

MAIB Safety bulletin - Breakaway (2/2003)


Capsize of the motor hire cruiser Breakaway V on the River Bure, Norfolk
19 July 2003
This document, containing Safety Recommendations, has been produced for marine safety purposes only on the basis of information available to date.

The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1999 provide for the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents to make recommendations at any time during the course of an investigation if, in his opinion, it is necessary or desirable to do so.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is carrying out an investigation of the capsize of the motor hire cruiser Breakaway V on 19 July 2003. The MAIB will publish a full report on completion of the investigation.

Towards the end of a day's cruising on the Norfolk Broads, Breakaway V capsized and inverted, trapping two of her ten occupants in the upturned hull. One of the two persons trapped subsequently died.

Stephen Meyer
Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents

Press Enquiries: 020 7944 3066; out of hours: 020 7944 4292
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 3000
INTERNET ADDRESS FOR DFT PRESS NOTICES:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pns/newslist.cgi

Safety Recommendations
Background
Breakaway V was a 6.77m day hire motor cruiser built and operated by Barnes Brinkcraft Ltd, Wroxham, Norfolk. It was based upon a traditional open boat hull form, which had been modified, and to which a 'sports cruiser' type superstructure had been added. The boat's maximum capacity was ten persons, which had been based on the boat's seating arrangements. No in-depth stability tests were considered necessary because two other types of craft based on the same hull form had been operated safely by the builder since 1996.

On 19 July 2003, a group of ten persons hired the boat for the afternoon. When returning to Wroxham, the boat capsized to starboard and inverted without warning. Two of the party were trapped underneath. Rescue services managed to cut into the upturned hull but tragically, one of the trapped persons had died.

The MAIB conducted an inclining test on another Breakaway boat on 29 July 2003, initial analysis of which indicated that Breakaway V capsized because of the loading and distribution of the ten persons on board at the time. The total weight of these persons was about 845Kg, and they were distributed primarily forward and starboard of the centreline. Six of the party were located on the raised forward deck, which because of its height, had a considerable destabilising influence.

The MAIB considers that this tragic accident highlights the importance of stability calculations and tests on build or following major modifications to vessels, and the need to allow an adequate safety margin when determining the maximum number of persons a boat can carry.

Safety Recommendations
All bodies and authorities responsible for the licensing of pleasure vessels let for hire, and all hire boat operators are recommended to:

Ensure that on completion of build or any modification altering a vessel's stability characteristics, the consequences of such changes has been determined through calculation and testing by a suitably qualified person before the vessel is put into service.
Allow an adequate safety margin when determining the maximum number of passengers a boat is authorised to carry, taking into account the potential inexperience and weights of the persons hiring a boat, and the worst-case effects of uneven weight distribution.
Ensure that handover procedures and briefs to persons hiring a boat be comprehensive, and include the dangers of uneven weight distribution, particularly on raised decks.


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[Alistairr]

Very interesting report, But tragic.
This boat was working at its capacity, But thats no good if the load isn't distributed evenly around the deck.
It also shows that hire companies out profits before safety, as a party of 10 wish to hire a boat, so heres a boat that takes 10 people, instead of a bit of safety margin as in hire out a BIGGER boat.

I think in all aspects common sence MUST prevale. Thats why i limit no.s to 6 on my boat.

Whoever hired this boat must have had sailing experience, so why did they not do a risk assesment, or see the dangers of having so many people on such a small boat.



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[dickh]

As far as I remember, almost anyone can hire a boat on the Broads without any experience at all, apart from basic nav rules, but they will give you a quick lesson if asked. I suppose in future hirers will get an instant 'safety lesson' - perhaps with a check card signed off to say they understand?
I hired a 50' narrow boat on the Brecon and Montgomery canal earlier in the year, my first time in a narow boat as long as that, and we all expected to get a quick lesson on the quirks of steering such a vessel on this narow and very beautiful canal, but no, just how to start the engine and use the various bits & pieces and we were off! They did know I had boating experience though. It took about 3 days to get the hang of not hitting the bank etc...


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I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Observer]

Charter coded boats have to be given a stability certificate - possibly doesn't apply to inland waters but certainly does to seagoing boats. This involves, as a minimum, lining up number of people for whom the boat is to be coded (excluding the helmsman) - or equivalent weights - on one side of the boat and measuring the angle of heel.

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[Alistairr]

A bit dangaerous that, isn't it with human beings?????/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif



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