Nautical Nimbkinpoops

[Fubar512 1,350]

Watch this couple in a small boat almost get run down by a tanker, because they anchored in a fairway (ship channel).  Large vessels are constrained by draft, and have the right of way.  If the USCG or that state's marine patrol had been there, they would have issued them a summons, irregardless of whether or not that were experiencing engine trouble.

 

They were lucky that a party boat came to provide aid.  And even then, they did not follow the party boat captains advice, when he told them to cut the anchor line.

 

[Skyviper 1,101]

That was very scary and yet interesting. So what could they have done if they had engine troubles? I have no idea how these things work other than my butt won't be on the water.

[+Typhoid 231]

idiots learning what the Law of Gross Tonnage means......

[ironroad 218]

Idiots, I have been told it takes many miles to slow down a tanker.

[Fubar512 1,350]

That was very scary and yet interesting. So what could they have done if they had engine troubles? I have no idea how these things work other than my butt won't be on the water.

 

You meant, "had they been running along minding their own business and the engine quit while they were crossing the channel (instead of anchoring in the channel)?"

 

The first  step, is to notify the USCG or the Marine Police on Channel 16.  The body of water that incident took place in, is Raritan Bay, which runs between NY and NJ.  Ch 16 is monitored by the USCG out of NY harbor, as well as the Coast Guard station near the tip of Sandy Hook in NJ.  It is also monitored by the NY and NJ marine police (both state agencies), and by the NYPD marine division out of Staten Island (a municipal agency). So if notified of the emergency, someone will have resources dispatched within a few minutes, at most.  

 

By notifying the authorities, they are in effect, broadcasting on a public channel that is monitored by ships and tugs, as well as pleasure boats. The law states that any unencumbered vessel that is close enough to render assistance MUST do so. Assistance can mean getting the crew members off the stricken vessel, or possibly even towing it to safety (not recommended unless you know what you're doing, or are a licensed master with a towing endorsement on your ticket). 

 

As for the tanker in that situation, the only rule that applies to it is that it must monitor channel 16, and must maintain steerage-way, which on a vessel of that size, may be 7-10 knots (steerage way is the minimum speed at which a vessel can maneuver on its own). 

 

Edited December 28, 2015 by Fubar512

[KJakker 910]

Fubar512,  , I may not be a boater but having lived just a mile from the shore of Lake Huron most of my life I do know that you don't horse around in the shipping channels, especially in the height of the summer shipping season. I am not sure how much traffic New York gets but on the Great Lakes you are just asking for a 30,000+ ton freighter with 60-70,000+ tons of coal or iron ore in its hold to run you down at 15 knots.      

[Fubar512 1,350]

Here's a snippet of video that I recorded in that same area, to illustrate the actual size of the bay. We were fishing about were the "N" in Raritan Bay is on the chart in my previous post.

 

My Movie.wmv