Unbridled Stupidity and the Viking Longship

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by bvander

I believe its not so much the length issue, but on her registration she is listed as a cargo vessel. Hopefully someone in the bureaucracy will have a blinding flash of the obvious and issue a waiver.

This is the answer, if you have ever been in the Military or Government, you know everything is waiverable.

Enough public outroar or the right politician get involved and it will be waivered

There are exceptions to every rule, and that is what waivers are for.

I had the CBP in Key West lock up the Cayman Islands Mosquito control aircraft a few years back when I flew it back for maintenance, and they stood firm let me tell you, no way were they going to release that aircraft, it was going to sit on the ramp and rot right beside the Cuban aircraft.
Queen of England displayed interest, and Bam they couldn't turn loose of that aircraft fast enough.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by pcmm

According to the articles that I've read on this, It appears they DID do the research and were given and exemption, only to arrive and then be told the opposite! gotta love beaurocrats!

Exactly. Please read the background before making accusations. They did their due diligence. They were told they'd be OK, only to have the bureaucratic story change once they got here. Could they have done more? Probably. But they were operating on information provided to them from the Great Lakes Pilotage Authorities, which any reasonable person would expect to have provided accurate information.

As for travelling up the Canadian side, the St. Lawrence Seaway, which includes the Great Lakes, is jointly administered by Canada and the USA. There'll be no sneaking along the Canadian side -- especially not in that boat.

[MarkJ]

Very good article on it.

Its quite a problem.



Viking vessel hits snag on way to Duluth | Duluth News Tribune

[IdoraKeeper]

It's just paranoid ravings! Who would not fear a shipload of ax wielding Norsky adventurers cruising the Great Lakes? A free of charge Pilot surely can be found who would like to be a Viking for a few weeks.:-)��

[Jason Flare]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

But they were operating on information provided to them from the Great Lakes Pilotage Authorities, which any reasonable person would expect to have provided accurate information.

I have already had authorities provide inaccurate information to me so I wouldn't expect an authority to provide accurate information.

I'm unreasonable that way.

[rognvald]

"Oh yeah. The thing about, "our current US government?" Stretching it a bit to refer to a situation that has existed for more than a hundred years as "current."
Denverdon


D,
Who ultimately should be held responsible other than our "current" government? They are the ones in power who enforce the laws and have the ability to make exceptions in cases where the law and it's inherent practicality, as in this case, would prevent a historic and educational experience. I am not interested in making this a political argument but rather to encourage common sense and benefit to the general public. This is why I referred to "our current government." I hope this is clear. Follows is the petition to make an exception for this important event. I encourage everyone on this site to respond. Good luck and safe sailing.
https://www.change.org/p/rear-admira...-h%C3%A5rfagre

[Tetepare]

This story is the continuation of one that started more than a decade ago.

The city of Rochester NY on Lake Ontario had this brainstorm- to drive the local economy by linking Rochester with Toronto, Canada via Ferry.

They spent millions on a ferry terminal and leased it in perpetuity for $1 to a local developer (shady business dealings).

Then they bought a multi-million dollar ferry from Australia.

Problem is, the ferry was never US flagged. So they had to pay the $400/day pilot cost as well. And the Rochester government never could get this changed.

But wait, there's more! Part of the original plan was to have truck traffic onboard, thus avoiding the lengthy border delays at the Niagara River. This was going to subsidize the operating cost of the ferry. But alas, the city of Rochester blew it on this too, because they couldn't get it certified for the big rigs (despite that it was designed for exactly that), so never loaded a single one.

And, in an oversight that a junior business school grad would have caught, the city of Rochester government missed one big element- NOBODY from Toronto was going to Rochester and spending money- it was all Rochester area residents going to Toronto to spend money. Oops.

The whole thing was a total failure that cost tax payers tens of millions of dollars. Due to both ignorance on the part of City of Rochester politicians, and unbending bureaucrats, the project was destined to struggle then doomed to failure.

So here now is a Viking longship, the first one on the Great Lakes in arguably a thousand years, and the same idiots in government want to drown the gift horse. It will never end. Unless, perhaps those on the longship pull a Lindisfarne.

[IdoraKeeper]

Next will be the sacking of Duluth! Where will I get my Duluth Trading underwear?

[AD28]

I'm votin' fer F'bottoms.

Skipper's job, amongst all the various things, is to ensure that bureaucracy is satisfied. Should have documented the original conversation that assured the Vikes that they'd have permission, if that is indeed what occurred. Not only that, but as a backup plan maybe the Vikes should have contracted with a pilot. Can't imagine someone out there wouldn't be glad to volunteer their time.

That fishy smell, it's from Denmark, right?

[rognvald]

Originally Posted by AD28

I'm votin' fer F'bottoms.

Skipper's job, amongst all the various things, is to ensure that bureaucracy is satisfied. Should have documented the original conversation that assured the Vikes that they'd have permission, if that is indeed what occurred. Not only that, but as a backup plan maybe the Vikes should have contracted with a pilot. Can't imagine someone out there wouldn't be glad to volunteer their time.

That fishy smell, it's from Denmark, right?

AD28,
Please refer to Mike O'Reilly's above post. Thanks.

[astokel]

And the trade unions. How did they ruin things or is this just a right wing rant?

This wouldn't happen if Trump was president

[Alec H]

Don't we all follow basic common sense by checking the regulations of a foreign country before we arrive? Given the significance and expense of this voyage, it's hard to understand why due diligence was not undertaken prior to departure.

[KadeyKrogen38]

Pilots do not relieve a captain of the burden or responsibility of operating his ship. They stand by and provide piloting information only.

[ZULU40]

Crowdfunding
if all else fails, that might be an answer

[MarkSF]

Is there no way to cut a foot or two off either end of the boat?

"However, the length difference of a few feet is irrelevant to the discussion". This is wrong. The rule is that the boat must be under 35M, OR be entirely recreational, to not need a pilot.

The fundamental question here is how the USCG has determined that a 114ft boat is longer than 35M, because by my calculation 114ft is 34.75M.