Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin
I'm also not convinced they actually collided, or if they did it was only a bump. The camera man certainly didn't seem to be jolted.
|
If you watch the video to the end then either they already had a load of damage on their port after quarter or they collided!
A ST vessel of this size has radar and AIS etc. They should have been aware of the situation 2 miles out. 2 miles at 8knots = 16 minutes. I'd say you should be able to tack a vessel of that size in 16 minutes. However, at 2 miles out you are gonna be thinking the PD vessel will alter course and so you don't muster hands to do it. You should really be able to do it in 5 minutes - perhaps not the slickest tack but safe enough. So 7 or 8 minutes out you need to make a decision to get all crew you need on deck. That is a mile out... The PD Vessel could presumably change course a minute before hand and not think anything of it...
There is nothing that says a standon vessel has to keep sailing in that direction. They could have wanted to tack anyway as part of their navigational plan, in which case they just have to make a clear alteration to course and communicate their intentions.
Based on small sailing boats if you turn into the wind without moving your sails you tend to stop... I'd say he could have crash tacked to go behind the PD Vessel. He might then have had 20 minutes of sorting out to do to get moving again in the direction he wanted. His continuous blasting the horn should have been enough to tell all 59 crew they needed to be ready for something unexpected...
Makes me laugh that the fine is less than £2k. If someone took a car out on the road and crashed it into a bus carrying 59 people because they had taken their hands off the wheel and climbed into the back seat they'd loose their licence... this guy can go fish tommorrow and the fine is probably less that the cost of a 'tank' of fuel.
Imogen
Red Mist
BLACK PIG
Piglet
