nestawayboats
Active member
A Leopard 45 was abandoned mid-ARC, earlier this week. The World Cruising report says it was taking on water in the starboard hull “in the area of the rudder stock base”, and that “with the electrical system affected by the water” they took the decision to abandon.
Full report: ARC vessel abandoned
The crew were rescued by another ARC-participating vessel, so in that respect all good. Sympathies to the owner and crew for their situation; they made the decision to abandon with far more information than we have available to us.
The rest of this is not specific to that incident, but my thoughts were provoked by it.
My question is, what happens or should happen to such abandoned boats? I’m sure “in the old days” your last move as you left the vessel – unless already sinking fast, of her own accord – was meant to be cut one or more hose off an (open!) seacock, and wave a sad goodbye as you made sure she went down to her watery fate. I don't know but I get the idea that's not what's happening nowadays, in all cases. I don't know the numbers, but I also suspect more boats are now being abandoned before they sink (and then maybe only sinking slowly or not sinking), maybe in part because it's easier (possible even) to call for help.
I asked the question and World Cruising replied “the maritime authorities are aware and tracking the situation”. Which might be reassuring to some but I'm not interpreting as “yes she was sunk”.
(Particularly) a catamaran with a leak in one of two hulls could stay at least partially afloat for a considerable time… during which it will present a considerable hazard to vessels sailing a similar course. At some point before she sinks she will be barely floating, and if that’s also at night with some swell, unlit and without AIS (electronics gone), the abandoned vessel would be extremely difficult to detect.
An abandoned, semi-submerged catamaran that’s now a 45x24ft hazard, or a bit over three times the “target size” of a shipping container for example. And, my point, it’s a target that could have been removed…
I don’t know what the insurance position is. On the face of it they might not look too kindly on you deliberately making the damage to your boat worse, i.e. a total loss. But if she’s still afloat and might sink or damage another boat, potentially even causing death, then surely that’s more “risk” for the insurance company than any potential value in recovering the damaged vessel, when (if or how) ever that might be.
In essence, once the stricken crew are safe, would it not be safer for everyone (else) if the stricken vessel were sunk while the rescuing craft is in sight? Assuming very deep water, no realistic prospect of the boat being rescued, etc.
Full report: ARC vessel abandoned
The crew were rescued by another ARC-participating vessel, so in that respect all good. Sympathies to the owner and crew for their situation; they made the decision to abandon with far more information than we have available to us.
The rest of this is not specific to that incident, but my thoughts were provoked by it.
My question is, what happens or should happen to such abandoned boats? I’m sure “in the old days” your last move as you left the vessel – unless already sinking fast, of her own accord – was meant to be cut one or more hose off an (open!) seacock, and wave a sad goodbye as you made sure she went down to her watery fate. I don't know but I get the idea that's not what's happening nowadays, in all cases. I don't know the numbers, but I also suspect more boats are now being abandoned before they sink (and then maybe only sinking slowly or not sinking), maybe in part because it's easier (possible even) to call for help.
I asked the question and World Cruising replied “the maritime authorities are aware and tracking the situation”. Which might be reassuring to some but I'm not interpreting as “yes she was sunk”.
(Particularly) a catamaran with a leak in one of two hulls could stay at least partially afloat for a considerable time… during which it will present a considerable hazard to vessels sailing a similar course. At some point before she sinks she will be barely floating, and if that’s also at night with some swell, unlit and without AIS (electronics gone), the abandoned vessel would be extremely difficult to detect.
An abandoned, semi-submerged catamaran that’s now a 45x24ft hazard, or a bit over three times the “target size” of a shipping container for example. And, my point, it’s a target that could have been removed…
I don’t know what the insurance position is. On the face of it they might not look too kindly on you deliberately making the damage to your boat worse, i.e. a total loss. But if she’s still afloat and might sink or damage another boat, potentially even causing death, then surely that’s more “risk” for the insurance company than any potential value in recovering the damaged vessel, when (if or how) ever that might be.
In essence, once the stricken crew are safe, would it not be safer for everyone (else) if the stricken vessel were sunk while the rescuing craft is in sight? Assuming very deep water, no realistic prospect of the boat being rescued, etc.
