Vessel with no RT aground but in no immediate danger, what to do?

Vega1447

Vega1447

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I sail on a lake in Ireland.

Recently saw a small mobo v close to an island - didn't see anyone looking for help and heard nothing on Ch16 so just sailed on.

Turns out that they were aground but not in any danger as non-tidal waters, RNLI RiB sorted them out (I understand they called 999/CG on mobile)

Made me think though.

If I had realized that they needed help, should I have (having maybe anchored off casualty and made contact)

A) Just called CG on Ch16 and advised them.
B) Sent Pan Pan on behalf of casualty (no such thing as Pan Pan Relay afaik?)
C) Sent Mayday Relay (not appropriate as no imminent danger)..
D) Sailed on and left them to dial 999 on mobile...

?
 
First thing must be to try and contact the vessel who you think needs assistance to see if they think they need assistance.
 
DJE said:
First thing must be to try and contact the vessel who you think needs assistance to see if they think they need assistance.
Click to expand...

Were they on deck raising and lowering their arms. Was there a barrel of burning tar on the foredeck? Was a pinpoint flare, depending n time of day orange smoke or a red flare? Sound of gunfire?

If not, sail on by! :cool:
 
Solitaire said:
Were they on deck raising and lowering their arms. Was there a barrel of burning tar on the foredeck? Was a pinpoint flare, depending n time of day orange smoke or a red flare? Sound of gunfire?

If not, sail on by! :cool:
Click to expand...

Well. as you mention it, they discharged a GPMG in my direction which left some new holes in topsides - but I put that down to harmless exuberance..

All I'm asking is; *if* they had asked me for help - if they had no VHF on board (True) and no other comms (False as they had mobile phone) would a non-Urgency call on Ch 16 to CG have been appropriate as they were in a Pan Pan situation...?
 
I would have got as close as possible to the potential casualty and hailed them. If they wanted assistance I would have informed the coastguard (as routine traffic) and then considered whether it was safe and practicable for me to give assistance. Then take it from there and keep CG informed.
 
Surely its nothing to do with the COAST Guard on non tidal inland waters?

If aground and in no danger surely no urgency message is applicable? Certainly not 999 - that is an emergency number.

Isn't this really a case for calling a boatyard to send a tug? Or - if your boat is suitable, offering to tow them off yourself?
 
Vega1447 said:
Well. as you mention it, they discharged a GPMG in my direction which left some new holes in topsides - but I put that down to harmless exuberance..
Click to expand...

Feckin eck yer lucky it wasent an M16 or widow maker!:eek:
Incidently swmbo has booked to go to that very lough in july.
C_W
 
Vega1447 said:
I sail on a lake in Ireland.

Recently saw a small mobo v close to an island - didn't see anyone looking for help and heard nothing on Ch16 so just sailed on.

Turns out that they were aground but not in any danger as non-tidal waters, RNLI RiB sorted them out (I understand they called 999/CG on mobile)

Made me think though.

If I had realized that they needed help, should I have (having maybe anchored off casualty and made contact)

A) Just called CG on Ch16 and advised them.
B) Sent Pan Pan on behalf of casualty (no such thing as Pan Pan Relay afaik?)
C) Sent Mayday Relay (not appropriate as no imminent danger)..
D) Sailed on and left them to dial 999 on mobile...

?
Click to expand...

Did they have appropriate day shapes hoisted?

How did you know they were 'aground'?
 
I just read in the local rag that two persons were airlifted from a sppedboat which had gone aground. It was upriver and apparently the mud was too soft for them to crawl to a lifeboat which was standing by.

I don't know the cirmustances of this and probably shouldn't comment but I wonder why they just couldn't wait until the tide came back in.
 
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