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David_Old_Jersey · 28-03-2011, 10:53

"A French fisherman onboard a boat that was hit by the Condor Vitesse this morning has died" (no pics of the French boat - but from description sounds like around 10 metre / 30 foot commercial fishing boat. in that location probably a Potter).

"The ferry was en route from France when it struck a vessel at around 7.45am, 45 minutes into the journey" (it's about a 40 mile crossing - usual journey time around 1 hour 15 mins).

"It was in French waters, east of the Minquiers" (just over half way into the Journey....bang on schedule - at service speed of 38 knots).

"Channel 103 spoke to passenger Marilyn Tomes onboard the Vitesse shortly after the accident happened. She described a 'sudden jolt'. Then she saw a plank of wood passing by the window". (given the height of the windows that plank didn't float past. and "sudden jolt" on something that size wouldn't be 5 knots)

"Describing the conditions at sea, Marilyn said the water was calm but it was 'very foggy'. " (From the passenger videos on TV, fooking foggy would be more apt. I'd have been worried about hitting something on a sailboat).

Jersey Insight - Your local Jersey directory, news, weather and classifieds

Fisherman dies after Channel collision - Fishupdate.com

Service speed of 38 knots - given the location of the incident, seems pretty clear that they were relying on radar

and in an area known to be used by commercial fishermen as well as other vessels (not a formal shipping lane - just the route to France / Jersey).

HSC Condor Vitesse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From my own experiance of these vessels (onboard) and from sea level - they do seem to expect others to clear a path. Which given there size and speed (and inability to stop) folks do.......but to my mind 38 knots in thick fog is just homicidal

IMO really just an incident waiting to happen. All very sad for those concerned, but a bit of a conundrum for other boat users..........

rebel heart · 28-03-2011, 11:04

Sad. A large and thorough investigation will be carried out no doubt, and I'm sure the entire bridge crew of the ferry will be drug tested and not let near a boat for a while.

Rhapsody-NS27 · 28-03-2011, 11:14

Very sad.

That is a pretty big ship.

Cormorant · 28-03-2011, 11:26

Gotta wonder if the fishing boat had any sort of radar reflector on board.

Talk about "worst case scenario.". . . .

rebel heart · 28-03-2011, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cormorant

Gotta wonder if the fishing boat had any sort of radar reflector on board.

Talk about "worst case scenario.". . . .

I'd imagine that 30' fisher was made of steel with a pilothouse. Even a West Marine special should pick up that blip.

Astrid · 28-03-2011, 11:58

I would imagine at 38 knots the mega cat was probably not able to perform any radical evasive maneuvers, so it would largely be up to other vessels to get out of the way.

Sabbatical II · 28-03-2011, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

I would imagine at 38 knots the mega cat was probably not able to perform any radical evasive maneuvers, so it would largely be up to other vessels to get out of the way.

And if the other vessel was a displacement type or a yacht in calm weather, how does one get out of the way of a huge vessel that just appears out of deep fog at 38 knots?

Greg

SvenG · 28-03-2011, 12:23

"The victim should have stepped out of the way of the bullet I fired."

-Sven

wolfaroo · 28-03-2011, 12:26

my sympathies to all those affected...

if it transpires the ferry was travelling at 38 knots in those conditions it's hard to see how the captain will avoid a prison sentence imho - rule 19 in the colregs is pretty unambiguous.

**Dockhead** · 28-03-2011, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfaroo

my sympathies to all those affected...

if it transpires the ferry was travelling at 38 knots in those conditions it's hard to see how the captain will avoid a prison sentence imho - rule 19 in the colregs is pretty unambiguous.

I agree. I encounter those monsters flying in and out of Poole harbor and give them a w i i i d e berth. In a fog they would be simply - well, your death. RIP the French fisherman. How sad.

markpierce · 28-03-2011, 13:15

At first appearance, the ferry operated in a criminal fashion.

cantxsailor · 28-03-2011, 13:23

I have to deal with the Boliver Ferries here on Galveston Bay and they are a complete nightmare. They will detour a little to avoid you but not much. The speed at which they travel is inescapable for a small sailing boat even under power and they come every few minutes. The are 3 or 4 ferries running most of the time and the trip is less than 15minutes. Add in other large commercial traffic, pleasure boats with more power than sense on board and a current that can put you on the rocks very quickly if you stray out side the channel for "safety sake" and the place can make you very very uncomfortable.

There is no excuse for deliberately being dangerous especially if just the shear size of your vessel is almost for sure going to kill someone if there is a collision.
I understand that pleasure boats often make these guys lives difficult but it is still their responsibility to make every effort to be extra careful.............m