Fireboat verdict in.

[Roger Long]

Portland Press Herald reports this morning that the accident was preventable, names the name, and that there will be punishment. There is also additional training in the future for the fireboat crew.

It evidently took quite a while to get an inquiry underway because no one knew who was supposed to investigate an accident involving a municipal vessel.

Damage estimate: 90 grand.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=300330&ac=PHnws

[Boatguy1972]

Portland Press Herald reports this morning that the accident was preventable, names the name, and that there will be punishment. There is also additional training in the future for the fireboat crew.

It evidently took quite a while to get an inquiry underway because no one knew who was supposed to investigate an accident involving a municipal vessel.

Damage estimate: 90 grand.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=300330&ac=PHnws

Lets see. the captain at the helm is one of the most experienced in the department and they do in-house training... need I say more?

[Roger Long]

Lets see. the captain at the helm is one of the most experienced in the department and they do in-house training... need I say more?

Well, I would say more. Remember that it was probably the most experienced and competent pilot in the Portland outfit that hit the old bridge with the tanker. He simply had a brain fade at an awkward moment. If you drive boats, it's always worth having the first thought in your mind when these things occur be, "There but for the grace of God go I."

I used to be an avid follower of aviation accident reports back when I was flying as I had a great interest in the human factors. The number of times I read about 10,000 plus hour highly trained pilots making boneheaded mistakes was incredible. It actually gets harder to avoid some mistakes as you get into a routine, become comfortable, start to do things by habit, etc.

That Julie N spill never would have happened if it had been blowing 25 knots with quarter mile visibility. The pilot could have centered her perfectly in those conditions. But, it was a fine and beautiful a fall day as the coast of Maine has ever seen. Standing there with a cup of coffee on the rail, the pilot's mind wandered for just a moment and the rest is history.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit to find that the FD's in-house training is woefully deficient but I wouldn't jump to that conclusion until knowing a lot of details about the exact navigational situation and decisions and assessing the training itself.

The important thing is to constantly keep in mind how easy it is to do something that looks really stupid afterwards when you are cruising along in your comfort zone.

[mmd]

Roger, thanks for the update on the goings-on in Portland. I hope that you will understand that I can't comment on too much of this, as I am tied a little too closely to it. Business and personal friends' confidences, and all. I will say, though, that the process of appointing the staff & hierarchy of command on the fireboats is not as straight-forward as staffing an ocean-going ship, as it is influenced by the rules of a land-based union. Also, the dollar value being mentioned is, I believe, the bid price by one of the firms that bid on the repairs (obviously the winner), and may not include the cost of items that they cannot manufacture.

This is going to turn into a political mud-slinging contest before it is over, I think, and argued by folks who don'd know or care about the facts, nor whom have the slightest knowlege of operating a large, fast vessel in the dark. Axes to grind, fingers to point...

[Concordia...41]

I used to be an avid follower of aviation accident reports back when I was flying as I had a great interest in the human factors. The number of times I read about 10,000 plus hour highly trained pilots making boneheaded mistakes was incredible. It actually gets harder to avoid some mistakes as you get into a routine, become comfortable, start to do things by habit, etc.



On a related note by my industry (law office) malpractice insurance increases based on the number of years in practice because the law of averages says that at some point you'll make a mistake. I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't the same in the medical industry.

You'd think the green behind the ears fresh from law or medical school kids would be hard to insure, but coverage is relatively low. Apparently the insurance tables figure they're green but careful, whereas insurance for a 20+ year established attorney is through the roof because they figure everyone screws up sometime. :rolleyes:

Let's all hope our sometimes are few and far between and don't cause much damage - whatever the industry. :(

[Chris-on-the-Boat]

Roger, from reading your post I may be forgiven for forming the opinion that you have become wise with age...

All of us have had that close call, wondering at the beauty around us, or repeating the last thing you heard her say, only to look up, wince, and inhale sharply as you wonder if she'll turn or stop in time...

Thank you, and I enjoy your posts...

[peter radclyffe]

mmd & roger, what is the draft of the old & the new fire boats