Ferry one sail boat 0

Why was the sailor down below deck when in the ferry lane--or at the ferry dock? Sorry, but rule of tonnage always wins in this situation. Try and stopping one of those ferry's in less than a hundred yards...(or more)!
 
I think he swam to waist deep water and was then rescued. the sail boat sunk while being towed, or attempt at towing. Watch the video. Witness stated that neither the sail or ferry sounded their horns.
 
It would be nice to be able to hear the "rest of the story" on this one.

As mentioned, TONNAGE RULES, and we know how that goes here. (AND with us in our boats.

Pay attention or pay the (price, piper, difference, penalty, pennance or ......). You can fill in that blank.

Do you have a RADAR REFLECTOR on board. When was the last time you checked with an opposing vessel to see how you show up on their radar?

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
when seemingly "silly" accidents (with catastrophic consequences) occur I feel much better about the amount of stress I put into learning how to 'boat' safely.
 
Probably the most important issue in boating safety in any boat is
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS! Obviously the sailboat didn't have that. Most marine accidents assign a certain portion of liability to each vessel.
If we are in close quarters we have both of us looking out. Also AIS is getting to be another tool. We noted that the Ferry's show up well on AIS--and it helps you to know exactly where they will go.
 
Actually, after this last trip, with much of it in the fog, I have been really considering a fully active AIS. I had several times that when I would contact an AIS target, (Usually within 2 mile, and when showing a CPA (closest point of approach) within 1/3 mile and TCPA (time to closest point of approach) within 5 minutes, I would contact to verify their acknowledgement of my position, and confirm sighting me on radar, and intention to maintain course. Several times I was told they could not see me, until I advised I was not active AIS but should show on Radar, after which, they would confirm they could see me (based on me telling them my position relative to them (like 1/2 mile off your stbd bow at about your 2 o'clock). Then I would get "Oh yes, now I see you and yes we will maintain course and speed."

Yes, I believe the AIS is a very good resource for increasing safety and if used carefully, it certainly helps with situational awareness.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
My experience with freighters and large ships (mostly great lakes vessels) is that they are complacent. The captains and helmsmen have done the trip many times if not hundreds. The ship is almost always on autopilot, and presumably on radar alarm, and they are not actually looking at the radar screen. A significant number of times I have closely observed the bridge windows with the binoculars and have been unable to see even a single head moving about the pilot house, for extended time periods - until they were out of sight.
Luck has been with these large ships much of the time and there have not been any collisions that caught the public attention - such as a family being run over in their pontoon boat and killed. The reality is that maritime law was created when mostly large sailing ships encountered each other at relatively slow speeds and no electronics meant a helmsman clutching the wheel at all times and fishermen were in the shallows.
Today, the public uses the public waters and will be found everywhere. We are marking time until some ship runs down a small vessel with enough fatalities to arouse the public.
 
Almost every year a yacht with a professional crew, large ship or ferry runs aground in the PNW. I have almost a dozen stories when I encountered large ships --mostly off shore, but once just 3 miles out of Los Angeles Harbor, where the crew was not paying attention-and the boat I had was much larger and gave an excellent radar signature. On several instances there were no persons on the bridge--gone to get a cup of coffee or use the head. Other times the watch keeper was asleep. The small boat always have to be aware and save himself! Rules are great if all follow them and are aware!
 
It is my understanding that the commercial ships have a way of tuning out the smaller vessels that have AIS transponders.

Bill Kelleher
 
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