Napping at the wheel?

Obviously the small boat driver should have done something but I doubt the uscg is going to look kindly upon a professional licensed ferry captain who doesn't attempt to change course and rams a pleasure boat who was stand on. Heck he waited so long to sound five blasts the final one sounded within a second of the collision

The ferry was give way, waited to long to sound the danger signal and didn't avoid the collision

Pretty clear cut
 
"Clueless Boater Crashes Into Washington State Ferry"

Shouldn't that read the other way around?
 
The smaller boat was wrong as can be. I would bet it was on autopilot, wrong to do, you have to watch. I've it happen many times.
 
Problem with ferries is they drive like there's track on the sea floor which is exclusively theirs to run on without deviation for any circumstances.
 
Small boat could have changed course much easier than ferry, or even slowed down to let ferry pass.. I always try to avoid collision no matter if I'm stand on or not.
Small boat much more maneuverable than loaded ferry..
 
I encounter ships and Lakers everyday in the St Lawrence river. I know the are there, so I keep a watch for them and move out of their way. When they sound their horn, either you move or be moved. I always choose to move
 
The name of the boat is "Nap Tyme". And people ask questions?
 
Granted speed and maneuverability come into play but the ferry entered and crossed a channel, and was give way. Neither vessel took appropriate actions in time to avoid the collision. However the ferry did at least stop in time to prevent total disaster.
 
So this would be inland nav rules correct?
 
Please don't get me wrong. NAP TIME didn't maintain a proper lookout. Local Knowledge Factor: "Hey they run Big, Hard, Heavy FERRIES around here!" Then the Common Sense Factor: "These things can hurt me."

We have deep draft tankers, container ships, car ships, regular freighters, tugs with 700-ft barges. SO many boaters offer no respect, in maneuvering AND in anchoring right in the channel. CLUELESS is the word!

Basically, I avoid everybody. Some desk jockey just bought a boat. Out there with no training, doesn't know there even ARE NAVRULS, playing tunes, talking on the iPhone. I'm Stand-On? Nope, I'm In Trouble.

Still, Ferry didn't act responsibly.

Have you listened to the bridge audio, USS PORTER, 2012, destroyer crosses tanker in destroyer's danger zone, sounds five short, twice, WHILE cutting 300,000 tons at 15KT off. That's Wavin' Lanterns at Runaway Trains! You can hear the crash on the audio with the bridge gang's voices.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Herrington

Small boat could have changed course much easier than ferry, or even slowed down to let ferry pass.. I always try to avoid collision no matter if I'm stand on or not.
Small boat much more maneuverable than loaded ferry..

Click to expand...


Totally agree. Graveyards are filled with people who had the right of way.
 
Thanks for clearing this up.

Can't Stand Look Out

Sitting in Out House
 
Nap Tyme is very lucky the ferry did not put on reverse thrust 10 or so seconds earlier so as to end up plowing into his beam with the ferry's bow with a good chance of pushing him under. It's interesting to watch the AP try to get the vessel right back on the original course after the strike.

Both parties certainly at fault. Great that there was essentially no damage to the vessels.

This is one of those ironic rare times when using one's head was a very counterproductive bad move(ment)!
 
I bet the captain of Nap Tyme will never go below to take a crap while under auto-pilot. Right of way or not, he was clearly in the wrong not standing watch.
 
I have to agree with PascalG. Both sides didn't perform properly, but it was the ferry captain's duty to give way.
 
while both are at fault, the Rule of General Responsibility (Rule 2) seems to have limited applicability to Ferries . . ..

Rule 8 should apply (to both boats, not just the recreational vessel) here; and let's not forget the ferry here in NYC that backed out of a slip into a flight of kayaks - where Rule 5 should apply.
 
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