Wahkuna ...

Yes, but also illuminating. The number of ships slowing down in 50 yards vis is terrifying, the casual acceptance of a 2 cable CPA in units only certified to 7 cables accuracy, the poor radar watch. Perhaps worst was the unexpected behaviour of the yacht - but I can sympathise with the skipper. I am impressed that the yacht had automatic sound signals available - but they arent much assistance in the context of a containership. As for the EPIRB battery failing so completely when well within it's service life...

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Thanks for that ParaHandy. Very interesting.

Should be mandatory reading for those who think that it is always the ship that must be entirely at fault. As is usual, lessons for everyone.

John

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Terrifying.

It seems as if the yacht almost turned back on its course and then collided with the container ship. So certainly not a black and white case.

The fact that the big stuff doesn't slow down in very poor visibility is IMHO contrary to the colregs.

May not be totally relevant in this case but worth noting that the ship was Liberian registered and both master and first mate had Liberian tickets. Contrast with the fact that all Liberian registered airlines (as well as some others) are banned from British airspace as their national safety regulations are considered inadequate.

We've got (M)ARPA on our boat and whilst very useful the movement of the yacht itself means the readings (CPA, TCA, Course & Direction) can vary considerably from moment to moment. So how much advantage you would get in these conditions is debateable. Be interesting whether MARPA can be fully included in the RYA radar course as, to the best of my knowledge, only Raymarine have the facility so far.



<hr width=100% size=1>Fill
 
Scarey stuff.. I sometimes slow down when it looks like a collision course .. no more. Will infuture always make a significant change of course for clarity.

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..
 
To give an idea ...

In fog it can be really terrible to see anything on a ship - even when in the bows.

I was Third Mate up in the bows of a ship slowly edging into Placentia Bay Canada in thick fog. Bridge called on walkie-talkie .... look out for a buoy on the stbd bow ..... let us know when you see it. So I and 2 other crew are starining trying to see the buoy.
Next we know is bonk bonk bonk ..... along the bow plates was a nice nav buoy ..... honestly couldn't see the damn thing till right on top of it and then it was fuzzy in the fog with the height we were at on DECK ......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
 
Tickets ...

If you read the report ... you will see that the Master etc. were trained FSU .... and not by Liberians ... this then means, ok not stated here, but that they would have qualified by way of their own national licence to have Liberian issued. It is rare that anyone actually takes a Liberian examination .... and I can tell you that the Liberian ticket is a re-write of the USA ticket ............. so ?? I carried a Liberian ticket for years - had to , couldn't work on Lib. ship without it. Same for Bahamas flag etc.
ALSO - many of the Lib. flag vessels are actually british run ex brit ships .................


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
 
Colregs ....

Make it very clear that all alterations of course or speed should be bold and obvious to intention.

Yes the ship should not have been travelling at such speed and IMHO was relying too much on radar info.
The yacht was to say the least increasing his predicament by lack of understanding of what was really happening around him.

Very sad, and the saddest part is that it will not be the last.

Take a moment to consider this ..... in the rules it actually says that a vessel proceeding with radar may consider safe speed to be faster than one without .... Now if the yacht had not been fitted with what is good gear - radar - would he have continued on his way and passed clear ? To be honest he shouldn't have been cutting across the bow anyway as if I'm right he was onthe port bow ... and therefore should have significantly swung to starboard to pass port to port .... I know that it is claimed that the rules are 'different' when fog etc. and all vessels should take action to keep clear - but msot mariners observe still port to port to avoid confusion making the alterations far bolder than in good viz.
This incident talking about cables ... in the area that they were I consider to be downright stupid ........ and that I consider is stupid in good viz, let alone a pea souper !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
 
Please note ...

In Maritime Investigations the final outcomes are never 100% one sided ... often so much occurs on both sides and also that Colregs do give provision for stand-on vessel to alter in the event that action alone on part of give way vessel is deemed insufficient.

The whole story really is terrible and should not have developed so badly.......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
 
Re: Tickets .& other

OK so if British run and ex British why go Liberian? Simply cheaper registry or are there other advantages?

Did say it wasn't totally relevant about the tickets - but they still kept going at 25 knots when vis according to the yacht crew was 50-60 metres - which was the distance at which they saw the container ship.

This speed was the standard cruising speed they are expected to maintain for the voyage. Key lesson for me is keep well clear, so any manouevres are done well in time.

Last channel crossing I was motor sailing AND had the cone up and a freighter on my starboard side very kindly altered to port to clear me at precisely the time I was turning to starboard to give him lots of room. Clear vis and happened when he was 2 or 3 miles away but could have been interesting in fog if I only had radar to plot him.

<hr width=100% size=1>Fill
 
Not British. Not Dutch either

The ship in question is built in Korea, owned by German doctor and dentists, amaged by a Hamburg company, registered in Liberia and manned by an FSU crew. She is on charter to an Anglo-Dutch company. She is not a flagged out former British ship, nor is she British run. When I last looked, in the deepsea trades, there were O, nil, zero, zilch ships with an all British crew.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
 
Re: Tickets .& other

There are many reasons for flag changes ... tax dodges, yes - costs and availability of cheaper crews etc.

BUT cheaper crew salaries does not mean less capable .... I have been with and seen some pretty awful Brit crews and officers ....

I don't agree with the speed the ship was at ... I don't agree with the yachts actions .... all comp[ounded into an accident that should not have happened.

As my Instructor at Marine School said .... A collision only happens because two vessesl try to be in same place at same time .... That may sound stupid - but if it is kept in mind it becomes much simpler ....

Many a time on watch - I altered for a yacht and let him proceed on without breaking his tack .... but your freighter and I are not all on the bridge ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
 
Re: Not British. Not Dutch either

I never claimed this vessel to be ex brit etc. etc.

What I said was .... many ex brit ships are lib etc. .......

That includes household names in British Shipping ..... I bet you wouldn't think twice if I gave you a Cruise Ticket on one of the big names company ships .... funny you'll probably find it Bahamas or other FOC registered ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
 
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