Should vessels that are abandoned mid-voyage be scuttled?

[Thistle]

Although only two alternatives (abandoning afloat and scuttling) seem to be discussed above, perhaps we should also consider a third: salvage.

I'm sure that the posters above would be strongly against littering the sea, either the surface or the floor ... but isn't that what is being suggested by abandoning or scuttling a vessel? Salvage may be expensive and it may be difficult, but as responsible sailors, shouldn't that be the first option to consider if we have to leave a boat before the end of a voyage?

 

[NormanS]

I think cost would have to come into that eq

Although only two alternatives (abandoning afloat and scuttling) seem to be discussed above, perhaps we should also consider a third: salvage.

I'm sure that the posters above would be strongly against littering the sea, either the surface or the floor ... but isn't that what is being suggested by abandoning or scuttling a vessel? Salvage may be expensive and it may be difficult, but as responsible sailors, shouldn't that be the first option to consider if we have to leave a boat before the end of a voyage?

I think that cost would have to come into that equation.

 

[Bouba]

Except in the case of a rescue being on hand...I wouldn’t abandon a floating vessel.....although the life raft might be in the water ready

 

[NormanS]

Except in the case of a rescue being on hand...I wouldn’t abandon a floating vessel.....although the life raft might be in the water ready

If it was on fire?

 

[capnsensible]

Except in the case of a rescue being on hand...I wouldn’t abandon a floating vessel.....although the life raft might be in the water ready

Ship Abandoned off Yemen Listing and Leaking Oil as Crew Reaches Djibouti

 

[DownWest]

Ship Abandoned off Yemen Listing and Leaking Oil as Crew Reaches Djibouti

Bit different for commercial. If drifting, why stay with it? Except to manage a tow. Crew aren't paid enough to risk anything.

Anybody remember the 'Flying Enterprise' and the attempt by the Tug 'Turmoil' to tow it. Captain Carlson's life jacket was in the 'Harbour Lights' pub in Falmouth Harbour with a few other momentos. That was quite heroic. We were in Falmouth at the time.

 

[Poignard]

Except in the case of a rescue being on hand...I wouldn’t abandon a floating vessel.....although the life raft might be in the water ready

The point of this thread is a yacht's crew being taken off by another vessel after it became, in the skipper's judgment, a hulk incapable of being sailed or moored.

Why would you stick with it and face a horrible, lonely, pointless death when you could be taken off, and hopefully die of old age in your bed surrounded by your loved ones?

In the latter case, the worst that could happen to you is being censured by some old geezers on a forum.

 

[Poignard]

Bit different for commercial. If drifting, why stay with it? Except to manage a tow. Crew aren't paid enough to risk anything.

Anybody remember the 'Flying Enterprise' and the attempt by the Tug 'Turmoil' to tow it. Captain Carlson's life jacket was in the 'Harbour Lights' pub in Falmouth Harbour with a few other momentos. That was quite heroic. We were in Falmouth at the time.

I remember that very well.

 

[Thistle]

I think cost would have to come into that eq
I think that cost would have to come into that equation.

Yes, but "polluter pays". Perhaps that should really be "polluter or their insurer pays".

 

[seeSimon]

He hit an Island when leading one of the Transat races too! I do miss that crazy guy!

Pip Hare fairly recently managed to hit Cornwall, at the end of a post-race channel crossing passage. Astoundingly good luck to have not hit/been hit by something else earlier on that passage?
Some Incidents often nowt to do with rogue "submerged objects"...imho...lookout?

That said, back in the 70s n 80s it was company policy to deliberately dump overside many weather-damaged containers (very common, WNA) before arrival Europe or Canada/US as it was much cheaper than offloading in port, and more importantly perhaps, caused the ship no delays.
I don't recall cutting holes in them to make them sink to be a matter of high priority? Although when possible they were usually opened, if only to allow the crew a little "free trade" opportunity

 

[seeSimon]

Here are some pics of the Gunboat 55 Rainmaker that I took at a yard in Bermuda when I stopped there on a delivery of a bigger Gunboat.

Rainmaker was abandoned on her maiden voyage just off the Carolinas in the USA.

She was recovered about 2 years later by someone out fishing off Bermuda, and I believe is now a power cat in the UK.

Given that she was abandoned just near the NE flowing gulf stream, it seem likely that she drifted NE, and then E pretty far in the Atlantic, and then S enough to get into the easterlies, before ending up in Bermuda.

View attachment 186317View attachment 186318View attachment 186319

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I believe I saw this quite magnificent power cat while spectating at the Richard Mille Cup, in Falmouth last summer?
A very impressive sight as she passed my modest 28ftr!

Details of the rebuild of the salvaged hull here...
Powercat 64 "Rainmaker" - The Multihull Centre