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Old 22-02-2023, 08:18   #1
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Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

Yesterday I had a harrowing experience with a dredging operation in the Lake Worth inlet. I would like to learn from this experience if I could have done anything differently/better.

My wife and I had a beautiful sail from Fort Pierce down to Lake Worth on our 42' Brewer 12.8. We timed our approach to the inlet to arrive close to slack tide as the current can be very strong there. Having seen dredging boats and tugs in the inlet last year, I expected them to be there again, and they were.

As we approached the inlet, I could see on AIS that a dredging vessel (Alaska) and multiple tugs were positioned right in the center of the channel just inside the inlet. I heard a few other vessels radioing the the dredge (or the inlet/harbormaster -- I'm not sure) asking permission to transit the inlet. I wasn't aware of a requirement to request permission to transit, but I checked ActiveCaptain and did some Googling while we approached to see if we were supposed to radio for permission. I could find nothing mentioning this, but I still planned to radio them and ask how to safely navigate and if they would prefer that we pass them on the north or south side of the inlet.

As we got closer, the dredging and tug vessels moved to the south side of the channel, and I could see fishing boats and other pleasurecraft moving in and out of the inlet on the north side, so I planned to follow the flow of traffic. As we got still closer, I could see a tug (Champion) side-tied to a dredging-related vessel, slowly moving west to east to exit the inlet. It seemed we would pass port-to-port.

Right as we cleared the jetties and were in the narrow part of the inlet, the tug with its tow suddenly made a hard turn to port, cutting directly in front of us. I had to throw our engine in reverse, full-throttle, to avoid a collision. Men standing on the vessel started pointing to the south (to our port), indicating that we should turn to port to navigate around them. We had 15-20 knots of wind from the south, so I could not easily head up into the wind, turning on a dime. Our displacement is 15 tons and it was not easy to slow down or turn to avoid a collision.

We were able to slow down enough to allow the tug and its towed vessel to clear us as they crossed the channel in front of us, but due to our prop walk our stern walked to port and our bow fell to starboard. We had left our mainsail up, and as our stern passed through the wind we jibed. Fortunately I saw that we were about to jibe with a few seconds of warning and we were able to trim in the main a good bit before it happened.

We turned and motored back out the inlet, waiting to see what the tug would do. We didn't want to try to enter again if they were going to be crossing in front of us again. I attempted to hail them on the VHF, and eventually another vessel in the dredging operation (or the inlet/harbormaster -- I couldn't understand who it was) responded. I asked about coordinating entry and they simply said that the inlet was open and to stay on the north side of the channel.

I feel that the tug captain was maneuvering unsafely. I understand that I need to stay out of the way of working vessels, and I'm sure they mostly have to just do their jobs and not be worrying about every small vessel entering and exiting the inlet, assuming that we'll navigate around them. However, I feel this was a careless maneuver due to how close we came to a collision.

Should I have done something differently, such as hailing them on the VHF before entering the inlet and asking about their intentions?

Is this normal behavior on the part of dredge/tug captains?
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Old 22-02-2023, 08:31   #2
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

I would have hailed them first if it wasn't obvious enough what they were doing, just to make sure each of us was aware of the others' intentions. But I agree, they should never have just turned across your bow.

Personally, I can only think of one bad encounter with a similar commercial tug. Pulled a barge off a wall and began backing up the channel with it, cutting off me and a couple of other boats in the process. No securite call first to announce movement intentions (despite nothing there having moved for hours). No response to multiple VHF hails on 13 and 16, continued backing up the middle of the channel with a barge and no obvious intentions for if he was going to turn around or where he was going to place the barge. So pretty much my only option was to stop and wait to see what he was doing.
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Old 22-02-2023, 08:40   #3
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

::Shrug:: Sometimes working vessels behave unpredictably and there just isn't much you can do.

The official way to find out of the are special rules are to look at the notices to mariners.

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/de...nm07072023.pdf

I don't see anything noteworthy. The area isn't closed and there aren't special rules.

You could have called them on the VHF. It might have helped. It might not.
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Old 22-02-2023, 09:21   #4
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

We have heavy barge and ship traffic at times. In defense of tugs and barges, it must be conceded that they are not real nimble and sometimes have to plan far in advance to get where they need to go. Assuming the tug felt it could not reasonably pass port to port while pursuing its dredging work, it should have made an early and obvious move, and it sounds like its move, though obvious, was not early enough. Regardless of what you did or did not do in terms of contacting them, courtesy and regs both should have caused them to give two blasts indicating an intention to leave you to starboard. Most tugs we meet give VHF alerts well in advance of potential problems, and seldom have to whistle, however. The tug's move may have been a surprise to you, but they certainly knew where they were going a lot earlier.
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Old 22-02-2023, 09:38   #5
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

The dredgers and tugs pretty much do whatever they want to here.

I've had similar dealing with a dredging ship.

He pulled a U turn and came right back at me as I was trying hard to get around him.

Pointing as best I could to get away but ended up having to tack.

Another time a tug with a huge crank was coming up right behind and over taking me as I l was leaving Little Creek.

Luckily I turned to see him and just as luck was the fact I still had my outboard down and idling as I sailed out.

Wind had dropped completely at the mouth of the creek so I had to take a hard 90 degree turn and add power to avoid a collision.

Not a word from them.

My guess is maybe they weren't happy having to come to work on a Sunday afternoon to place the Crane Barge back out at the new tunnel construction site.

They had moved them in to the creek a few days before due to a Nor' easter that came through.

I figure they are working so it's best to stay clear as best as is possible without bothering them with radio calls
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Old 22-02-2023, 10:03   #6
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

I might have taken in the mainsail and approached under motor only. The sail, as you noticed, restricted your ability to turn at will, and was another element of confusion you had to deal with.

I've found that commercial boats have a far greater tolerance for close shaves than recreational boaters tend to--they don't mind squeezing in, and wonder why you want more than six inches on either side. It's something to be got used to.

I'm grateful for any dredging that's done in the ICW or inlets: far too many have silted and shoaled and become unusable. The deeper and better maintained, the better.
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Old 22-02-2023, 10:08   #7
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benz View Post
I've found that commercial boats have a far greater tolerance for close shaves than recreational boaters tend to--they don't mind squeezing in, and wonder why you want more than six inches on either side. It's something to be got used to.
That's a big part of why I like to talk to them (and sometimes ask how I should pass to least interfere with what they're doing) if the situation isn't really obvious. I figure a few seconds on the radio is well worth avoiding one of us sitting there going "what the heck is he doing!?" Plus, I don't mind a close maneuver if it's planned and we're both expecting it to be close. But when it's "I don't know if he knew I was there" close without warning, that's concerning.

Generally in confined spaces with any boat that's working, I take the attitude of "I have no problem adjusting to give you extra space or to let you do something, but that only works if I know what you want / need"
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Old 22-02-2023, 10:23   #8
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

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Originally Posted by LTaylor View Post
…We had 15-20 knots of wind from the south, so I could not easily head up into the wind, turning on a dime. Our displacement is 15 tons and it was not easy to slow down or turn to avoid a collision…

…We had left our mainsail up…
Sounds like the tug made a questionable move on the assumption you would be able to navigate around them easily enough.

But I think you might be making some bad assumptions about how your boat handles. With the main only up, wind roughly on the beam, it should either be neutral or (more likely) have some weather helm. Add to that that you were motoring and have prop wash over the rudder, and turning into 20 knts of wind should be no issue at all. It would almost certainly happen quicker than coming to a stop using reverse. It’s not a marina situation where you need to place the boat gently - crank the helm over, push the throttle to the stop, and you should come through 90 in a couple of seconds.

As an aside, this is basically the reason I always preferred to drop all sail and motor in to any inlet. It just reduces the number of things you have to think about on the fly if something goes sideways. In this case, without the main, you may have chosen to turn away from the wind and come through 270 deg, but the idea of a jibe dropped that down a few pegs on the mental options list.
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Old 22-02-2023, 11:53   #9
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

My unsolicited .02

1) You were motor sailing into an inlet with relatively limited maneuverability (it's not the open ocean).

2) You continued with the sail up despite there being an active dredging operation.

3) You acknowledge VHF communication, but chose to wait.

4) You had to go full reverse to avoid a collision.

I guess on the one hand, either you collided or you didn't collide....close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

IMHO, I would have dropped the sail, radio'd much earlier and not gotten so close that I had to full reverse. On all accounts you had opportunities to take action, but didn't. I don't see the dredging operation as being the unpredictable entity in this encounter.

But hey, you asked.
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Old 22-02-2023, 12:06   #10
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

In general, it's a good idea to be very wary of tugs, and keep your distance if you can, or at least try to clearly establish their intent before passing near one that is working.

I've had two unfortunate encounters with tugs. One was in Curacao, as we were entering Sint Anna Bai. A tug was holding a vessel against the channel wall, and suddenly throttled up as we passed several boat lengths away. Our boat was only 27', and we were immediately steered to port at almost a 90-degree angle, and into opposing traffic.

The second was in the Panama Canal. Tugs were supporting a large cargo vessel, and our pilots told us to pass to port of the tugs and cargo vessel to get in front of them in the lock. This seemed like a bad idea, but I felt slightly hamstrung by the pilots barking orders. Needless to say, as we passed the first tug, he was forced to maneuver to support the cargo vessel (it was a windy day), and we were pushed by the force of his prop wash into a channel marker and almost grounded.
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Old 22-02-2023, 12:43   #11
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

I agree with Benz, Shrew and others who say no sail up and motor only in those situations. We have dredging and other operations occasionally here too and I just plan to be ready for anything, which means being as maneuverable as possible.
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Old 22-02-2023, 12:44   #12
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

I wasn't there, but it sounds like our new member LTaylor did a pretty good job in a strained situation - No gelcoat scratched. Having transited some of these inlets, I'd like to offer some defense of the criticism.
1. Sails up is bad if you need to maneuver - I always transit all inlets with at least the Main up. I've lost engine power in a close situation and ran aground, thankfully on mud that time. Inlets around here have rip-rap breakwaters and losing power may mean losing the boat. I sail much better than I motor.
2. Private boater should have used the VHF to get permission to transit a navigable waterway - Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with the federal regs or colregs saying that a vessel restricted in ability to maneuver (RAM) gets to close a waterway without USCG port captain instruction, duly posted and communicated - enlighten me. He was maneuvering and there was not sound signals nor understanding on VHF. The other vessel did not maintain course and speed. Was the other vessel even marked RAM, or do you just guess based on their current job (that doesn't sound right)? Both parties were lucky that the LTaylor had a keel monohull, not a catamaran, a sportfisherman on plane, or another commercial vessel - they do not turn on a dime.
3. Close is not a real collision so shake it off - As any pilot, safety officer, ships captain, etc. will tell you, there is a pyramid of bad decisions, some of which leads to close misses, some of which leads to accidents, some of which lead to injury or death. Close misses are the second step on a short pyramid. If you do not learn from close misses, you will definitely keep climbing.

I don't know the root-causes of this near miss, but it could have been worse. I'm guessing that part of the root cause may be staffing on the tug operations. These are not government boats, but contracted by the USCG or Corp of Engineers to conduct dredging. Every qualified deckhand or officer is money out of the owner's pocket. That tug captain may not have had the mental bandwidth or time to deal with wind, little recreational boats, tide, weight of his tow, etc. to bother with the radio or sound signals. May not be his fault, just profits and circumstances. On second thought, I may have reported this thing to the local USCG - for all I know that captain may have been impaired in some way and could kill someone on a small boat.
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Old 22-02-2023, 14:54   #13
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

I grew up in Palm Beach County. Familiar with its drivers, land and sea. No way would I have a sail up. LW is not good for that, Boca or Jupiter would have been tragic.
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Old 22-02-2023, 14:56   #14
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

Questions for L Taylor?

Had you checked the notices to mariners for the inlet? Reason is that they often post when the dredge will be being moved.

Prior to approaching the dredge, did you learn its name off the AIS? So that you could hail him via VHF prior to approach?

From how you describe the situation, I bet you've already figured out a way to approach the situation under sail, but you need to know that will not make you the stand on boat. The tug-dredge have to be given room to do their work in the narrow channel you all have to share. At the very least, a reef, and a plan in advance for the gybe to get out of the way FAST, would have helped. Also, as mentioned above, taking down the sail and proceeding under motor along (and motor boat rules, then) would have been prudent. It is the prudence you need to cultivate to become a better skipper. I am not saying you are imprudent, it is simply put that conservative skippers have less harrowing incidents, because of thinking ahead, planning ahead, and keeping in mind the welfare of vessel and crew.


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Old 22-02-2023, 15:05   #15
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Re: Dangerous dredging maneuvers in inlet -- what should I have done differently?

Active Captain, Google, Cruisers Forum info are “nice data points”.

They do NOTHING to relieve you of any responsibility. Even NTMs subrogate to good seamanship. Good seamanship for ANY Fl inlet is to stow the sails and motor in. There are way too many ways to have problems in an inlet. Running the engine is just smarter.

Once the dredge operation was unclear and since you had their name from AIS the prudent move was to radio them.

Don’t want to sound harsh- but using google, etc is NOT best practices. But so many rely solely on that
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