Cargo ship rams speedboat on Hudson River - scary!!!

[kingplanker]

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/08/06/alg_boat.jpg

Sailboat captain saves 4 after cargo ship rams speedboat on Hudson and flees scene



http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/08/05/2009-08-05_drama_on_the_hudson_cargo_boat_flees_scene_afte r_ramming_.html#ixzz0NQeajnLkming_.html#ixzz0NV4Bo y1L (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/08/05/2009-08-05_drama_on_the_hudson_cargo_boat_flees_scene_afte r_ramming_.html#ixzz0NV4Boy1L)

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I think there will be another side to that story.

"Flees the scene" - try "Was unaware of any collision"

No lights? On a cargo ship on the Hudson? - pull the other one!

[C. Ross]

And the rescuer just happened to be the director of the Bourne Identity movie. Wonder how it made the papers?

Good no one was injured or killed, but at a "serene dinner party at 1 am" with one gentleman and two attractive young ladies perhaps the watch standards were a bit lax?

[Ian McColgin]

If they ever identify the cargo ship, it will be interesting as to what they say and if we can ever answer all the questions, assuming that what they say might not be isomorphic with reality.

The paper reports no lights on the ship. That's possible, but it's also an unfortunate fact that many boaters can't identify ship lights as they are relativly high and may be masked by shore lights. I don't know the scene of this incident so I don't know if the latter was a problem.

It is equally hard to see small boat lights from the bridge of a freighter, espcially up close.

I really don't like the terms ". . . ship RAMS . . . and FLEES scene." "Rams" is a lesser problem but the term sounds more intentional than something like "hits" or even "runs over." "Flees" is a serious charge and utterly unsupported by any available information. If a large ship hits a power boat because the watch did not even see the little boat, there is almost no chance that they even know they hit something. Not an impact you'd feel. Not much noise over ambient ship noise.

None of which is to excuse the ship's captain, officers and watch.

Heavy ships, ferrys, tugs and other commercial craft routinely make 'security' calls advising other traffic of their location and direction. People don't seem to realize that if they have a VHF the law actually requires monitoring at least 16. Security calls are made on 16 and 13. If you have scan, you should be monitoring 09 (non-emergency call-up) if you want, but for sure 13 and 16. If you sail with the big guys, it makes sense to stay alert.

[willmarsh3]

These folks are incredibly lucky to be alive. There's a sad story here about a boat going in front of a towboat at night.

http://tinyurl.com/m3uq4o

These towboats have large spotlights and are constantly scanning the waters at night. They also broadcast security messages like Ian describes on channel 16.

[kingplanker]

If they ever identify the cargo ship, it will be interesting as to what they say and if we can ever answer all the questions, assuming that what they say might not be isomorphic with reality.

The paper reports no lights on the ship. That's possible, but it's also an unfortunate fact that many boaters can't identify ship lights as they are relativly high and may be masked by shore lights. I don't know the scene of this incident so I don't know if the latter was a problem.

It is equally hard to see small boat lights from the bridge of a freighter, espcially up close.

I really don't like the terms ". . . ship RAMS . . . and FLEES scene." "Rams" is a lesser problem but the term sounds more intentional than something like "hits" or even "runs over." "Flees" is a serious charge and utterly unsupported by any available information. If a large ship hits a power boat because the watch did not even see the little boat, there is almost no chance that they even know they hit something. Not an impact you'd feel. Not much noise over ambient ship noise.

None of which is to excuse the ship's captain, officers and watch.

Heavy ships, ferrys, tugs and other commercial craft routinely make 'security' calls advising other traffic of their location and direction. People don't seem to realize that if they have a VHF the law actually requires monitoring at least 16. Security calls are made on 16 and 13. If you have scan, you should be monitoring 09 (non-emergency call-up) if you want, but for sure 13 and 16. If you sail with the big guys, it makes sense to stay alert.

The New York Daily News rejected the original headline: Dummies Out to Lunch- park boat in shipping channel!!!

[C. Ross]

The New York Daily News rejected the original headline: Dummies Out to Lunch- park boat in shipping channel!!!


:D:D:D Nice.

A couple of forumites can back me up on this...traveling at night, with shore lights competing with ship lights, it's pretty easy not to see a large cargo vessel.

[rbgarr]

Remember the night-time collision of a tug and barge with the schooner Heron in the Delaware Canal (?) It was just last year, wasn't it?

[Captain Intrepid]

Perhaps next time they decide to have dinner in the middle of a commercial waterway they'll post a watch. After all, if the fellow on the speedboat is so incredulous that the cargo ship didn't see a little speedboat, he must understand how difficult it must be to not see a 250 foot cargo ship. Glad to hear everyone made it out ok though.

[C. Ross]

Perhaps next time they decide to have dinner in the middle of a commercial waterway they'll post a watch.

This is the Captain and his 1 am dinner guests. His eyes might not have been on the horizon.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/08/06/amd_boat.jpg

[Nanoose]

EVERYONE knows to stay out of the way of a cargo ship!! They will ALWAYS win. Idiots.

He "fails to see why the operator of the cargo ship didn't see their 40' speed boat"????

Even if the operator DID see the speed boat, what's he gonna do? Stopping distance the length of Kansas and turning radius of Montana.

You're in a SPEED BOAT!! You've got the ability to get out of the way. YOU could have avoided being hit.

Idiots.

[kingplanker]

EVERYONE knows to stay out of the way of a cargo ship!! They will ALWAYS win. Idiots.

He "fails to see why the operator of the cargo ship didn't see their 40' speed boat"????

Even if the operator DID see the speed boat, what's he gonna do? Stopping distance the length of Kansas and turning radius of Montana.

You're in a SPEED BOAT!! You've got the ability to get out of the way. YOU could have avoided being hit.

Idiots.

I heard somewhere that the speedboat's name is "Darwin's Revenge".

[David W Pratt]

Not certain, but I think a ship that size is required to have a Sandy Hook Harbor Pilot on board. It should be pretty easy to figure out which ship.

[TimH]

One can only imagine what they could have been doing. ;)



This is the Captain and his 1 am dinner guests. His eyes might not have been on the horizon.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/08/06/amd_boat.jpg

[The Bigfella]

Can't imagine how concerned his wife might be.

[C. Ross]

Can't imagine how concerned his wife might be.

Apparently she was piloting the cargo vessel.

[peter radclyffe]

brillianthttp://www.woodenboat.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[RFNK]

Apparently she was piloting the cargo vessel.


I'll pay that! Rick

[Woxbox]

Yep, gross tonnage rules. If they didn't know it before, they certainly do now.

[Todd D]

A small correction to Ian's statement about VHF radio monitoring...

On boats where it is not mandatory to have a VHF radio, it is only required that you monitor 16 when the radio is turned on. There is no requirement that the radio be turned on.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

As a frequent sailor in one of the narrowest and curvy sections of the Hudson with frequent barge traffic I doff my hat to any captain plying trade up or down. Not just the law of gross tonnage but avoiding the millions of party gnats buzzing half bind in your bow wake.

Ive sailed in all sorts of light and NEVER in a million sightings EVER seen a barge without running lights from dusk till dawn.

IMHO the speed boat was at fault.

[John Boone]

Afternoon,

Todd D, a slight mod to your last post might be in order. On another forum we had a similar discussion and it prompted me to do a bit of research into the latest regs regarding the requirement to monitor the VHF if one is installed on your vessel.

The regs have been revised several times since 1999 with the latest I can find on this issue being in Jan. 2008. Here is the excerpted text and a link to the full set of regs.

§ 80.310 Watch required by voluntary vessels.

Voluntary vessels not equipped with DSC must maintain a watch on 2182 kHz and on 156.800 MHz (Channel 16) whenever the vessel is underway and the radio is not being used to communicate. Noncommercial vessels, such as recreational boats, may alternatively maintain a watch on 156.450 MHz (Channel 9) in lieu of VHF Channel 16 for call and reply purposes. Voluntary vessels equipped with VHF-DSC equipment must maintain a watch on 2182 kHz and on either 156.525 MHz (Channel 70) or VHF Channel 16 aurally whenever the vessel is underway and the radio is not being used to communicate. Voluntary vessels equipped with MF-HF DSC equipment must have the radio turned on and set to an appropriate DSC distress calling channel or one of the radiotelephone distress channels whenever the vessel is underway and the radio is not being used to communicate. Voluntary vessels equipped with Inmarsat A, B, C, M or Fleet F77 systems must have the unit turned on and set to receive calls whenever the vessel is underway and the radio is not being used to communicate.

[73 FR 4485, Jan. 25, 2008]

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=9dc17fe3ab85b5f297550b5dc0852195&rgn=div5&view=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.1&idno=47#PartTop (http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=9dc17fe3ab85b5f297550b5dc0852195&rgn=div5&view=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.1&idno=47#PartTop)

As I understand these latest regs. , as a voluntary vessel (meaning a vessel not required to have a VHF radio installed or other telecommunications equipment) if you have a VHF installed, you must monitor specific frequencies or channels depending on the equipment you have, anytime the vessel is underway and the radio is not being used to communicate.

Have I misunderstood the current text ? If so can you point me at the correct regs. to help get me sorted out.

Thanks in advance, John

[Todd D]

You are right. They have changed the regulations. Prior to the change voluntary boats only had to maintain a watch on 16 when the radio was on.

[Todd D]

That regulation change makes me seriously consider taking the radio off my boat.

[willmarsh3]

I think I'll keep mine - regulations or not. It's good to be able to talk to a towboat captain to make suitable arrangements to pass safely. Also good to hear security messages that indicate where towboats are on the river. Or if I come across a situation where I need to call rescue. Just my opinion based on past experiences.

[McKee]

Having run smaller commercial vessels its always frustrating when the various rec boater think that 5 shorts means wave. I'm a pretty chill guy and it always nearly makes my head explode.