Solent Pan Pan

Greg2

Greg2

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As we were going unto Port Solent today I heard a Pan Pan on the vhf - a motor cruiser called ‘Boudicea’ - didn’t catch it all but heard 32 feet in length - lost one engine but making way at five knots. Thinking it might be a Forumite? Hope all is well.
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Yes, Boudicea is one of the forum's boats. I won't post who is the owner as I am sure he will get the boat back under its own steam.. What a miserable day to be out though.
 
sarabande said:
Yes, Boudicea is one of the forum's boats. I won't post who is the owner as I am sure he will get the boat back under its own steam.. What a miserable day to be out though.
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If you have to lose an engine today isn’t a bad day as there isn’t much wind and conditions are relatively calm - at least they are in Portsmouth - and it sounded as though they weren’t far from the Hamble so hopefully in sheltered waters. Getting back into the berth might be the tricky bit. Hopefully all will be well and it will be an easy fix.
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Good luck to the chap. Out of interest is it customary to call a Pan-Pan on losing one of two engines? Just asking as there have been a number of occasions I will switch off an engine if I suspect something may be wrong and warrants attention and pootle back on one rather than a fix at sea. This year it was an alternator belt that came loose and wobble wore it's way through a raw water hose. (thanks Volvo, great design there) I had a spare hose but the alternator was caked in salt water and I thought it better to just leave off. Then there was the oil pressure relief valve cover, brand new that leaked like a bloody sieve ?
 
BruceK said:
Good luck to the chap. Out of interest is it customary to call a Pan-Pan on losing one of two engines? Just asking as there have been a number of occasions I will switch off an engine if I suspect something may be wrong and warrants attention and pootle back on one rather than a fix at sea. This year it was an alternator belt that came loose and wobble wore it's way through a raw water hose. (thanks Volvo, great design there) I had a spare hose but the alternator was caked in salt water and I thought it better to just leave off. Then there was the oil pressure relief valve cover, brand new that leaked like a bloody sieve ?
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I would think that it's not a Pan Pan unless unable to make way in the conditions as a result of reduced power - obv I have no idea of the basis of the Pan Pan, so no criticism inferred at all. It would certainly be a call to the marina to ensure there is help on standby for mooring
 
Greg2 said:
As we were going unto Port Solent today I heard a Pan Pan on the vhf - a motor cruiser called ‘Boudicea’ - didn’t catch it all but heard 32 feet in length - lost one engine but making way at five knots. Thinking it might be a Forumite? Hope all is well.
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I’m guessing there must have been more to the pan pan than just losing one engine (assuming a twin engines boat). Hope all is fine for the boat in question.
 
I listened to this on my VHF whilst en/route to Poole. Pan Pan was cancelled around mid day as he made it back to port safely.
 
markc said:
I would think that it's not a Pan Pan unless unable to make way in the conditions as a result of reduced power - obv I have no idea of the basis of the Pan Pan, so no criticism inferred at all. It would certainly be a call to the marina to ensure there is help on standby for mooring
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I am not imposing any criticism at all, just for the record. Just a question on prudence. Should I advise the CG if I am down on power but confident or is it best to forewarn them in case there are further issues. I am a bit shy that way and have always had a policy of self help.

And if so is it a PAN PAN or just a advisory call on channel 65 or whatever local coast watch channel
 
I think it depends if you know what the fault is. I had an idle wheel seize so was confident that that the failure was independent of the other engine.
If you don’t know, then the other engine could be next so PanPan ok in my book.
An example could be a recent fill in both tanks of contaminated fuel.
 
markc said:
I would think that it's not a Pan Pan unless unable to make way in the conditions as a result of reduced power - obv I have no idea of the basis of the Pan Pan, so no criticism inferred at all. It would certainly be a call to the marina to ensure there is help on standby for mooring
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I believe that there was a lot of smoke within one engine compartment which could have been caused by fire. In my opinion a Pan-Pan was the correct call until it was possible to determine beyond doubt that there was no further danger of fire. The situation seemed to be very well handled by all parties involved.
Mike
 
I thought a PAN PAN was a non urgent assistance call. Emphasis on assistance but not imminently life threatening
 
mikegunn said:
I believe that there was a lot of smoke within one engine compartment which could have been caused by fire. In my opinion a Pan-Pan was the correct call until it was possible to determine beyond doubt that there was no further danger of fire. The situation seemed to be very well handled by all parties involved.
Mike
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Oh hell I need to go reread my manual. For a fire I'd have been bleating Mayday and abandoning the vessel.
 
If I had lost one of 2 engines with no other factors I wouldn’t call anyone other than maybe the company if commercial.

it’s a bit like sail boats calling for assistance because their engine isn’t working. Hey what’s that sail thing?! Help at marina definitely

W
 
mikegunn said:
I believe that there was a lot of smoke within one engine compartment which could have been caused by fire. In my opinion a Pan-Pan was the correct call until it was possible to determine beyond doubt that there was no further danger of fire. The situation seemed to be very well handled by all parties involved.
Mike
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If that’s the case, it was absolutely the correct thing to do. I guessed there had to be more to it than a simple engine failure.
 
As a pilot I can assure you losing an engine is a ( minimum!) of a Pan Pan!

To me Pan is I am here, I might need help and I am not happy. Mayday is come and get me.

I dont know the sea state, the experience of the skipper, what else went wrong at the same time ( spilt cooling hose for example), if the other engine was in any way compromised, if there were very young children on board who were upset, could they small smoke etc etc etc. It all goes to the overall atmosphere on board and is the skippers decision.

Personally if it was just an engine failure, the weather was Ok and the rest was normal then I would plod home, but a Pan would do no harm. If it was rough and I had a long way to go then on balance I probably would.

I did a Pan on an aircraft as the engine hatch came loose and it moved 3 inches or so. I slowed down and landed etc - but I did want them to know where I was, what was up etc in case it escalated - which it didn't.

I hope the boat is fixed for a fair price rapidly.
 
My question was not aimed at this specific incident but in general. I dont share your thoughts bar a few examples given above. But given an aeroplane yes, I could imagine that would be wise, afterall there may be people and property below you
 
When we had to shut down one engine due to overheating shortly after leaving Lowestoft bound for Southwold, it never occurred to me to notify anyone on the VHF. I did phone HMS at Southwold to ask if they could have a look at it as well as the fresh water leak that they already knew about, but that was all.
 
If it is the boat and skipper that I, and I’m sure others, think this incident may have involved then they are plenty experienced enough to have made the right call. Speculatively questioning that judgement without full facts seems unreasonable to me.
If I lost an engine and then lifted the hatch to find plenty of smoke then I would have made the same call. Hopefully all is well.
 
As someone above has mentioned flying, I'll add my thoughts into this thread. I have always been taught that declaring a Pan Pan or Mayday call is the right thing to do if you feel it's needed, as, it can always be downgraded later when the situation develops further and you realise it isn't.

It's better than not declaring anything, then having to wait longer for help if/when it is needed.
 
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