Yachts hit by Red Funnel ferry

[Seajet]

I remember going on the old Condor hydrofoil from St Peter Port ( or maybe St Helier, a long time ago ) to St Malo in thick fog; I was amazed he kept up high speed, weaving between yachts as they appeared - playing Space Invaders.

Of course that's a major snag with hydrofoils, not good at reduced speed.

When we got off I looked up expecting some fancy radar, but it looked a bog standard job as on fishing boats - a while later I think they did have a nasty collision.

This Red Funnel does sound a bit like steering failure, I'm not suggesting high speed in this case - sorry for the boats but glad no-one was hurt.

 

[JumbleDuck]

When we got off I looked up expecting some fancy radar, but it looked a bog standard job as on fishing boats - a while later I think they did have a nasty collision.

The Condor ferry hit a fishing boat, resulting in the death of its skipper. while doing ~40kt in thick fog as the captain and first officer ignored the radar screen and chatted about Catwomen. Both were convicted of manslaughter but got derisory suspended sentences.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-24039483

A couple of years ago the Rothesay ferry was suspended because of thick fog. I was able to take the Western Ferries service to get home instead, but found it odd that fog where it runs was even thicker. Didn't seem to deter anybody.

 

[Angele]

The Condor ferry hit a fishing boat......

Whilst that is almost certainly the incident Seajet was referring to, his post was specifically referring to the Condor hydrofoils. I remember them as a young lad - both travelling on them between the islands and to Saint Malo, and also avoiding them whilst sailing mirror dinghies out from Saint Helier harbour. (On one particular occasion, I was becalmed between the pier heads, due to the wind shadow created by the harbour walls and the IPTS changed to red and one of the hydrofoils came round the corner. Nearly a brown trouser moment).

However, the last hydrofoil was pensioned off in the mid 1990s. So, if that is indeed the incident Seajet was referring to, then the radars he observed were not the ones in use on the Condor CATAMARAN that had the collision. The accident report on the incident is rather revealing. No criticism of the size of the radar transponders, but it would have been better if both had been working and the crew members actually using them (it!) properly when in thick fog.

 

[Seajet]

My hair-raising hydrofoil trip was in the early - mid 80's; it may well be I just heard of the collision and thought ' no surprise there then ' - though I would be surprised if they got to mid 90's without incident.

 

[gjgm]

The Condor ferry hit a fishing boat, resulting in the death of its skipper. while doing ~40kt in thick fog as the captain and first officer ignored the radar screen and chatted about Catwomen. Both were convicted of manslaughter but got derisory suspended sentences.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-24039483

A couple of years ago the Rothesay ferry was suspended because of thick fog. I was able to take the Western Ferries service to get home instead, but found it odd that fog where it runs was even thicker. Didn't seem to deter anybody.

 

[Giblets]

I see that the MCA are asking for any witnesses to the Red Funnel incident.

 

[Seajet]

It's getting to the stage we need a waterproof ' dashcam ' on boats.

 

[VicS]

I see that the MCA are asking for any witnesses to the Red Funnel incident.

I think that was the collision between Red Falcon and a motor yacht at 16:35 on Saturday 29th September as the Red Falcon was departing Southampton Water en-route to East Cowes not the incident that is the subject of this thread and which occurred two days earlier in fog at 05:30 as Red Eagle was departing from East Cowes en route to Southampton.