Woman and two dogs missing after boat crash off Suffolk/Essex coast

[Marmalade]

The wash from a dredger nearly rolled us a couple of years ago and bounced a heavy microwave over a 1.5" fiddle onto the cabin sole. It was at max-chat leaving Harwich harbour oresumably for its dumping ground. I've been close to big ships many times but have never seen a wash like it. I wonder if that played any part. I've often thought that a smaller boat than Marmalade could have been rolled or swamped.

Was the dredger in the main channel?

 

[Cantata]

This http://www.shippingtv.co.uk/?p=1564 gives you more information about the track of the dredger before and after the incident.

 

[dogleg]

The wash from a dredger nearly rolled us a couple of years ago and bounced a heavy microwave over a 1.5" fiddle onto the cabin sole. It was at max-chat leaving Harwich harbour oresumably for its dumping ground. I've been close to big ships many times but have never seen a wash like it. I wonder if that played any part. I've often thought that a smaller boat than Marmalade could have been rolled or swamped.

Was the dredger in the main channel?

collision pn was near the Cross buoy near low water

 

[WF36]

A dive team from Norfolk Fire Brigade is understood to be gearing up to join the search for a sailor still missing off the Essex and Suffolk coastline.

 

[maxcampbell]

This http://www.shippingtv.co.uk/?p=1564 gives you more information.

Presumably collision was at about 37secs on this animation - or does anyone know better?

 

[Koeketiene]

A dive team from Norfolk Fire Brigade is understood to be gearing up to join the search for a sailor still missing off the Essex and Suffolk coastline.

http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/2...o_sighting_in_missing_sailor_search_1_3634562

Not looking good.

The use of an underwater SAR team might suggest that the rescuers believe that the missing person is trapped in the sunken yacht.
Given the flat calm conditions IMO the idea has merit.

 

[xyachtdave]

Yes that would be the terribly sad and logical conclusion based on the weather yesterday.

It's sobering to think someone went out for a days boating in the sun and for whatever reason ended up in this situation.

Years ago beating up through Gillingham the Arko dredger appeared ahead and tacking out of the channel a new crew member put the most horrendous riding turn on a winch before grinding it in.

In the space of 5 seconds we were hove to in front of a ship which was closing fast. The offending sheet was cut and off we went.

Easy to see how it can go so wrong so quickly.

 

[dogleg]

http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/2...o_sighting_in_missing_sailor_search_1_3634562

Not looking good.

The use of an underwater SAR team might suggest that the rescuers believe that the missing person is trapped in the sunken yacht.
Given the flat calm conditions IMO the idea has merit.

missing person was on deck but if she had her lifeline attached to anything that might be the answer as to why in such ideal conditions nothing has been found despite total saturation of vessels and helo

 

[Stork_III]

missing person was on deck but if she had her lifeline attached to anything that might be the answer as to why in such ideal conditions nothing has been found despite total saturation of vessels and helo

How do you know she was on deck? I have not seen any official report as such.

 

[nigelm]

Maybe I missed abit , apologies if I have but do we know who/ what the yacht was and where it came from , was it a local boat ? , a terrible accident to happen to anyone ..

 

[dogleg]

How do you know she was on deck? I have not seen any official report as such.

stated by CG to lifeboats

 

[Bru]

I see that Haven Hornbill (the Port Authorities pollution control / work vessel) has been stopped in the vicinity of the collision for the last couple of hours so I'm guessing she's being used as a dive vessel

 

[Sixpence]

Fingers crossed for their safety but there's been nothing found on the surface, and it sounds like they're hoping to find them in the sunken yacht. Not too deep, fortunately
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-27759656

 

[sailorman]

Looks like they were crossing "The recommended route", might not be locals

 

[Stork_III]

Looks like they were crossing "The recommended route", might not be locals

Walton LB search pattern today shown here. https://twitter.com/WaltonRNLI/stat...ign=WaltonRNLI&utm_content=475971820420882433

 

[Bru]

Looks like they were crossing "The recommended route", might not be locals

The collision occurred well offshore of the recommended crossing of the deep water channel. Not that it makes much odds, it's a recommended crossing point not a compulsory one and the yacht had every right to be where it was

At this stage, we've no idea of the course and speed of the yacht (she could have been northbound, southbound, inbound to the Orwell, outbound from the Orwell, we don't know)

What I do know is that the dredger was outbound from Felixstowe and exited the deep water channel into the outbound only South Channel just after Harwich No.2 buoy making a gradual alteration to starboard

The collision occurred less than ten minutes later (perhaps no more than five minutes after the course alteration would have stood any chance of being noticed) roughly half way between No.2 and Cross, about 3 cables south of the southern edge of the deep water channel

Was the yacht heading North under full sail and failed to see the alteration of the dredgers course behind their genoa? (SE F3 so heading North they'd have been broad reaching on starboard. It's a possibility)

What were the bridge crew of the dredger up to anyway? From the AIS track they'd been habitually cutting that corner off (which they're entitled to do) but it makes me wonder if the yacht crew thought they were safe from "the big ships" if they were South of Cross not realising that some pretty big ships don't need to stay in the deep water channel? Why didn't the bridge crew spot the yacht????

BTW the AIS signals indicated they were claiming "Restricted Maneuverability" which is clearly cobblers - that'll be because it would be the case when they are dredging and dumping and they're not changing the AIS settings for the run to and from the dumping grounds

 

[maby]

I'm always very pleased to have AIS anywhere near Felixstowe! It should have warned the yacht crew that they were in danger with plenty of time to take avoiding action.

 

[Athene V30]

I'm always very pleased to have AIS anywhere near Felixstowe! It should have warned the yacht crew that they were in danger with plenty of time to take avoiding action.

But only if you look at it! Having had AIS in last boat I would pay attention to it crossing Dover Straits etc but if just bimbling along in the sunshine on a lovely Sunday afternoon would I be looking at instruments?

But we are all just clutching at straws and making assumptions as there is not enough information to tell us what really happened.

Just very sad.

 

[sailorman]

I'm always very pleased to have AIS anywhere near Felixstowe! It should have warned the yacht crew that they were in danger with plenty of time to take avoiding action.

On the day Mk 1 Eyeball would have been preferable

 

[sailorman]

http://www.suffolk.police.uk/newsandevents/newsstories/2014/june/womansbodyrecoveredfelixs.aspx