He's back!!!!!

[starcrafttom]

https://www.passagemaker.com/trawler-news/nap-tyme-afloat-ferry-collision

You have now been fore warned that this DA is back out there.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

Hopefully, he will get back to his slip and never leave it again.

Mark

 

[localboy]

"This has turned my life upside down..."

Well at least you still HAVE A LIFE! :roll:

 

[hardee]

As often happens, a boat name has special meaning. May this one hapoen in the appropriate places from here on out.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[chromer]

That fellow should be required to broadcast Sécurité warnings every 15 minutes while underway on Ch 16 :roll:

 

[potter water]

Did I hear him actually say, "When I got hit by a ferry.? I'm pretty sure the video shows that he hit the ferry.

 

[JamesTXSD]

That fellow should be required to broadcast Sécurité warnings every 15 minutes while underway on Ch 16 :roll:

I'm thinking it would be best to put his boat on a tether... say about a foot, foot and a half. Use something solid so he can't "accidentally" cut the tether... ya know, while he's on the crapper.

:roll:

 

[smckean (Tosca)]

Do I have this right?

The small boat would the stand-on boat and the ferry would be the give-way boat since the small boat was to starboard, BUT the ferry is of sufficient tonnage that this normal rule doesn't apply; so in this case, the ferry had the right of way given its size.

 

[Capn Jack]

Bigus goes firstus... :wink

 

[starcrafttom]

More to he point- you cant decide if you are the stand to or give way craft if the auto pilots is on and you are in the head taking a shit. Which is what happened as the so called captain admitted to.

Sorry but any other "laws of the seas " arguments are mute if the captain is not on the bridge. Should just be happy hes not dead and shut up.

 

[olsurfdog]

Amen!

 

[hardee]

More to he point- you cant decide if you are the stand to or give way craft if the auto pilots is on and you are in the head taking a shit. Which is what happened as the so called captain admitted to.

Sorry but any other "laws of the seas " arguments are mute if the captain is not on the bridge. Should just be happy hes not dead and shut up.

:thup :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[thataway]

$63,000 repair? Wonder who paid that bill. $63,000 is probably more that the boat is worth. I guess the boat's owner doesn't think he did anything wrong! I agree with those who hope the yard disabled the boat's engine. The ferry was assigned partly to blame--because they did not deviate course, and sound the danger signal (5 blasts) sooner. (We don't know for the video if they had sounded it previously.) I disagree with the assessment that the ferry didn't go full reverse until the moment of impact. I suspect that the boat was already starting to slow--and it takes quite some time for the ferry to both turn and stop.

No rational ferry skipper would think that a boat on autopilot with no lookout would cross right in front of a ferry....all boat driving becomes defensive. In fact it is. Collision should be avoided at all cost--no matter who is at "fault".

 

[JamesTXSD]

Yeah, the "avoid collision" part of the Colregs. If you didn't avoid the collision, regardless of fault... well, you're still held to some degree of fault. I feel for the ferry captain - an idiot in another boat put that on his record.

Running anywhere in the Salish Sea, stepping away from the helm while making way is dangerous. Besides the boat traffic, the logs, debris, and deadheads are always out there. If he didn't have someone to be a lookout, it would have been much smarter to simply stop and go crap.

While working in the Tetons, a dumas in a rental canoe whacked one of our excursion boats. While it was tied to the dock. No damage to either boat. The manager (also a captain), jokingly said, "Is there anything you could have done to avoid the collision?" :roll:

 

[smckean (Tosca)]

Quoting myself here.....

BUT since the ferry is of sufficient tonnage that this normal rule doesn't apply; so in this case, the ferry had the right of way given its size.

Since I haven't seen a definitive answer to this question, I pulled out my Coast Guard rule book, and amazed myself to find that there is no rule that says something along the lines of: "Notwithstanding all other rules, a small vessel must avoid a really, really big vessel since big vessels are hard to maneuver"

Well, there is not such a rule per se.....and I've been operating as if there were for 40 years! There is a rule that is close, but it is not definitive. Rule 18Aii says:

"A power driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of: a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver"

Close, but it does not say that a big ship is by definition "restricted in her ability to maneuver"; it could be any vessel that feels itself restricted; not only that, but also it would seem that it is debatable when a ship is "restricted in her ability to maneuver". For example, how far away from a freighter does my little CD25 have to be before that freighter could relatively easily avoid me if I were on a collision course to the freighter's starboard? I used to think the freighter always had the right-of-way, but it seems not. The freighter, being the give way vessel, is obligated to change speed or course to avoid me if I'm far enough away to give the freighter's skipper maneuvering room. I never knew I had so much power!! :wink:

So it seems to me that if the skipper of the Nap Tyme had claimed he was on watch, but expected the ferry to move out of his way, the ferry would have been 100% at fault in this situation.

Amazing to me......

 

[thataway]

Review of the rules of the Road-

Rule 15 - Crossing Situation Return

(a) When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

In this case the ferry had Nap-Tyme on her starboard side. thus was give way vessel

Rule 16 - Action by Give-way Vessel

Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

Ferry did not take adequate "early and substantial action"

Rule 17- Action by Stand-on Vessel

(a)(i) Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed.

(ii) The latter vessel may, however, take action to avoid collision by her maneuver alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance with these Rules.


(b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.

(c) A power-driven vessel which takes action in a crossing situation in accordance with Rule 17(a)(ii) to avoid collision with another power-driven vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, not alter course to port for a vessel on her own port side.

(d) This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligation to keep out of the way.

Nap-Tyme, because of her failure to stand watch and use all appropriate means, caused a collision in violation of the above.

Rule 18 - Responsibilities Between Vessels

Except where Rules 9, 10, and 13 otherwise require:

(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:

(i) a vessel not under command;
(ii) a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver;
(iii) a vessel engaged in fishing;
(iv) a sailing vessel.

Although the ferry is restricted by her size and type, if she had taken action sooner, the collision could have been avoided

Rule 7 - Risk of Collision

(a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist.

(b) Proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including long-range scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision and radar plotting or equivalent systematic observation of detected objects.

(c) Assumptions shall not be made on the basis of scanty information, especially scanty radar information.

(d) In determining if risk of collision exists the following considerations shall be among those taken into account:

(i) Such risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change.
(ii) Such risk may sometimes exist even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a very large vessel or a tow or when approaching a vessel at close range.

Both vessels were at fault here.

Rule 8 - Action to Avoid Collision

(a) Any action taken to avoid collision shall be taken in accordance with Rules 4-19 and shall if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.

(b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar; a succession of small alterations of course and/or speed should be avoided.

(c) If there is sufficient sea room, alteration of course alone may be the most effective action to avoid a close-quarters situation provided that it is made in good time, is substantial and does not result in another close-quarters situation.

(d) Action taken to avoid collision with another vessel shall be such as to result in passing at a safe distance. The effectiveness of the action shall be carefully checked until the other vessel is finally past and clear.

(e) If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel may slacken her speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing her means of propulsion.

(f)(i) A vessel which, by any of these Rules, is required not to impede the passage or safe passage of another vessel shall, when required by the circumstances of the case, take early action to allow sufficient sea room for the safe passage of the other vessel.

(ii) A vessel required not to impede the passage or safe passage of another vessel is not relieved of this obligation if approaching the other vessel so as to involve risk of collision and shall, when taking action, have full regard to the action which may be required by Rules 4-19.

(iii) A vessel, the passage of which is not to be impeded remains fully obliged to comply with Rules 4-19 when the two vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision.

Again both vessels had responsibility here.

There is rarely a situation with a collision where only one vessel is fully at fault.

 

[beermanPDX]

Rule 18 - Responsibilities Between Vessels

Except where Rules 9, 10, and 13 otherwise require:

(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:

(i) a vessel not under command;
(ii) a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver;
(iii) a vessel engaged in fishing;
(iv) a sailing vessel.

Although the ferry is restricted by her size and type, if she had taken action sooner, the collision could have been avoided

While it doesn't alter your point (which I agree with), I don't believe the ferry can be considered a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver. Size doesn't come in to play in that classification. What I was taught is that a RAM (Restricted in Ability to Maneuver) vessel is defined that way "due to the nature of her work." Additionally, I don't believe any WA state ferrys display any RAM lights / day shapes.

Definition from Colregs:

Rule 3

The term "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to maneuver as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The term [Int] "vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver" shall [Int] include but not be limited to:
-A vessel engaged in laying, servicing, or picking up a navigational mark, -submarine cable or pipeline;
-A vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;
-A vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway;
-A vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;
-A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;
-A vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

 

[thataway]

Rob, Absolutely correct.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

I thought that a ferry in the ferry lane and a ship in a shipping lane had some kind of priority independent of who is to starboard. I'm going to keep pretending that is the rule even if it isn't true.

Speaking of not true, the ship yard that did the repair on Nap Tyme also modified the helm seat. It is now also a head. Problem solved.

Mark

 

[starcrafttom]

Where is my like button for Mark.??