So You Fall Asleep On Your Watch?

[rognvald]

Here's a frightening video of a collision at sea by the German sail training vessel Alexander Von Humboldt and the Dutch fishing trawler Andrea. Andrea's Officer of the Watch was later found guilty and fined. How could a smaller vessel have survived? Was the fine sufficient?
Fishing Vessel hits large Sailing Vessel in Good Visibility 20/8/2010 - YouTube

[Tim R.]

A smaller vessel could have altered course in time to avoid a collision assuming they had a proper watch.

The AIS and MARPA on my boat will tell me well in advance that a collision is possible. The assumption is that the fishing vessel was on a constant course for quite some time if the pilot was asleep. Could the Humboldt alter course earlier? Did they assume the fishing vessel would alter and wait too long?

[boatman61]

Dunno what the fine was so no comment on that..
However this is pretty common as most fishing boats operate shorthanded and when the nets are in and the catch is a good one the skippers will set the auto and go back to help... that coupled with a radio banging out hi volume music the scene is set..
See fishing boats.. keep an eye on them.. Surprised the sailboat left it so late...

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Dunno what the fine was so no comment on that..
However this is pretty common as most fishing boats operate shorthanded and when the nets are in and the catch is a good one the skippers will set the auto and go back to help... that coupled with a radio banging out hi volume music the scene is set..
See fishing boats.. keep an eye on them.. Surprised the sailboat left it so late...

+ 1 ...been there done that, thankfully never hit anything.

[Kettlewell]

A lot of fishing vessels are not required to use AIS, and don't, at least over here in the USA.

[Crimea Cruiser]

I believe that while the trawler was obviously with fault for not altering course, the tall ship was apparently not trying to frighten the paid passengers that can be seen at end of video, and neglected it's duty to avoid collision at all cost. I do not know all the particulars, but I wonder if there were attempts to hail trawler. There appeared to plenty of time for both vessels to alter course or speed.
When I am driving a car. I always look both ways after traffic light turns green before starting through intersection. Just because there are rules, does not mean everybody follows them. Defensive driving or sailing. It is just safer and simple, common sense!

[rognvald]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Dunno what the fine was so no comment on that..
However this is pretty common as most fishing boats operate shorthanded and when the nets are in and the catch is a good one the skippers will set the auto and go back to help... that coupled with a radio banging out hi volume music the scene is set..
See fishing boats.. keep an eye on them.. Surprised the sailboat left it so late...

Boatman, the fine was 1700 pounds and the costs were 6435 pounds: total $9799.54 USD. It doesn't sound like much to me considering the nature of the accident and the potential for loss of life. There is a description of the event at the bottom of the video.

[David M]

Both vessels are at fault. The fishing vessel broke Rule 18.

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;

The sailing vessel is also at fault. Rule 17(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.

The sailing vessel appeared to do nothing other than blowing its whistle.

It is pretty rare in a collision that one vessel is 100% innocent of breaking a rule.

If it had happened in US waters, Coastie Court would have assigned most of the fault to the fishing vessel but some of the fault to the sailing vessel.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by rognvald

Boatman, the fine was 1700 pounds and the costs were 6435 pounds: total $9799.54 USD. It doesn't sound like much to me considering the nature of the accident and the potential for loss of life. There is a description of the event at the bottom of the video.

Its quite likely that his 'Commercial Ticket' has been pulled as well back in Holland after the video was viewed disproving his claims.. can see when she hits full astern by the black smoke..
So easily could have been much worse..

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by David M

Both vessels are at fault. The fishing vessel broke Rule 18.
[...]
The sailing vessel is also at fault. Rule 17(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.

The sailing vessel appeared to do nothing other than blowing its whistle.

Exactly.

[Strygaldwir]

If the trawler had its nets out, it would have been the stand on vessel and the sail boat would have been mostly at fault as it was the giveway vessel. I don't know how the sailing vessel could have seen that nets were not out, so the captain is obligated to give way, not blow a horn. The trawler is obligated to have a watch out, so that mitigates fault I'd think. But if the trawler had blown its horn back. I think the sailing vessel may have been at fault. unless of course they were in shallow water and the sailing vessel was restricted by draft...

Shouldn't it have been 5 blast?

Don't you just love Colregs!?

[Celestialsailor]

It shoed only a few minutes of video. We all know there are people out there commercial or not, that do @@shole things. It's likely the sailboat saw the fishing boat with it's outriggers extended 10 minutes before the incident. Honestly, a prudent sailor with a bow to beam bearing should fall off a few degrees to avoid this sort of foolishness. I mean, after-all, do you want to be right or do you want your vessel in nice shape?

[Pelagic]

Of course I fall asleep... Isn't that what AIS and Insurance is for?...

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Of course I fall asleep... Isn't that what AIS and Insurance is for?...

you jest!
i have met a few cruising couples that put the radar on and go to bed for the night on ocean passages!

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Strygaldwir

If the trawler had its nets out, it would have been the stand on vessel and the sail boat would have been mostly at fault as it was the giveway vessel. I don't know how the sailing vessel could have seen that nets were not out, so the captain is obligated to give way, not blow a horn.

Don't you just love Colregs!?

And read them too.. If you know a vessel when fishing should have some signs