Coast guard hits a boat....

[KewlBird]

Hopefully this is not a repost...Coast guard hits a runabout, coast guard at fault?!
http://www.break.com/usercontent/2008/4/Coast-Guard-Hits-And-Sinks-Boat-483877.html

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

Screwup all around. The driver of the small boat said he didn't even know the Coast Guard Aux. boat was there. Was he blind? He was on a crossing course with the CGA boat. All he would have needed to do is back off the throttle.

The CGA boat's skipper, apparently, was on his loud hailer trying to alert the smaller craft. He should also have cut throttle and made a turn to pass behind the small craft.

As for who is in the wrong, according to the rules of the sea, it doesn't matter. Both operators are wrong for not avoiding this collision.

Common sense trumps rules every time.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

Yeah, hard to determine the fault, and as CA said, doesn't much matter at this point.

But, the small craft boat saw the tour boat to go around it but didn't see the CG boat? Pretty big thing to miss but I think could have been avoided.

I wonder if the CG didn't pull back on the throttle and turn was because they were combing for the missing boater, however at those speeds, I'm not sure I'd want the CG to find me considering how that boat faired

 

[Ret USN CPO]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

You only have the other right of way if the other guy yields to you.

 

[ne7800]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

very easy to avoid. the guy in the small boat may have been wrong for not being aware of his suroundings but the coat guard boat could of just backed off just a little and missed it

 

[KewlBird]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

One thing I missed the first time I listened to it was that the CG was blocking the pleasure crafts from entering the area. That explains CG not backing off.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

That video is complete fiction. They first show a regular Coast Guard boat implying that was the boat that was involved in the accident. Then the boat they show in the collision is a completely different boat.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

Per International - Inland navigational rule # 15 and 16 the Coast Guard Aux officer is primarily at fault because he was the give way boat. Yes, the other driver shares some of the responsibility since he did not alter course or speed when the other boat did not give way.

Rule 15 Crossing situation
When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

Rule 16 Action by Give-way Vessel
Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

Interesting. I took a minute or two to try and find a reference to this via Google. Searched a number of combinations that at least in my opinion would have turned something up. Best I could do was find the similare video on YouTube.
I thought initially that Drowned Rat was being overly sceptical....now i am wondering whether he was sceptical enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vLErvNBf1Y


And her's one that is pretty over the top too....true?...who knows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gAitj9GVtM&feature=related

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

The video is clearly numerous clips from different times meant to fool the viewer into thinking the white Coast Guard boat is the one that caused the collision.

The first boat they show is a regular U.S. Coast Guard 41 foot UTB. Then they show an Aux. Coast Guard boat coxswain in a completely different boat, although you're meant to think it's the same boat. Then they show the speeding boat collision with ???? And then finally crew members wearing Coast Guard PFD's and a Coast Guard helicopter coming to investigate.

I don't know what boat collided with the speedboat, but I can tell you without a doubt, it was not a U.S. Coast Guard boat. It's possible it could be a civilian Aux. boat, but with all the other deception in the video, who knows.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

The video is clearly numerous clips from different times meant to fool the viewer into thinking the white Coast Guard boat is the one that caused the collision.

The first boat they show is a regular U.S. Coast Guard 41 foot UTB. Then they show an Aux. Coast Guard boat coxswain in a completely different boat, although you're meant to think it's the same boat. Then they show the speeding boat collision with ???? And then finally crew members wearing Coast Guard PFD's and a Coast Guard helicopter coming to investigate.

I don't know what boat collided with the speedboat, but I can tell you without a doubt, it was not a U.S. Coast Guard boat. It's possible it could be a civilian Aux. boat, but with all the other deception in the video, who knows.

I wasn't fooled, and I didn't read the video the way you did. I think it clearly stated it was a CG volunteer, or as you put it Aux. Coast Guard that was clearing boats from the area. The story was about a Coast Guard Rescue. The reporter was aboard a Aux. Boat filming Coast Guard boats.

The video shows the two men in the boat looking the other way, with one waving at the larger boat to the right. One of the first things he said when he got on the CG boat was “what happened” and then “we were waving at the Celebration”.

I think the first rule I learned as a kid, when operating any motor powered form of transportation, was to assume no one else sees you.

Drive defensively, like you are invisible.

The volunteer CG Captain should have followed the advice my father gave me at 10, assume the other driver doesn't see you. Reduced his speed, and then exerted his authority. Neither size, nor a blue light & a red stripe, makes you “always” right.

The other boater should have been scanning the water for other craft in his path, he wasn't. But what the CG Aux. Captain did was very unprofessional.

I would love to hear their report, had it just been two normal pleasure boats involved.

I am big fan of the USCG, so don't read my statement here as something it is not.

 

[captquest]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

IMO the small boat is partially at fault for not being aware of the other fast moving CG boat. BUT, for crying out loud the CG boat had more than enough time to realize they were in a collision course and the other boat was not responding. What was so hard about shutting down the throttle? I mean who is at the helm of the CG boat? It seems to me any Captain with common sense would have slowed down long before they got that close!
My 36 cents (worth about two now).

 

[Adjuster]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

Man which way do you go with this one. Yes the CG should have taken steps to avoid the collision. But when the pleasure boater says 'the first time I new there was another boat was when he hit the back of my boat', to me that's an admission of guilt, carelessness, negligence and a bunch of other bad seamanship words. I fault the pleasure boater 95%. Open your eyes you moron for the safety of your passengers, yourself and other boaters.

 

[Splat]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

Man which way do you go with this one. Yes the CG should have taken steps to avoid the collision. But when the pleasure boater says 'the first time I new there was another boat was when he hit the back of my boat', to me that's an admission of guilt, carelessness, negligence and a bunch of other bad seamanship words. I fault the pleasure boater 95%. Open your eyes you moron for the safety of your passengers, yourself and other boaters.

I don't think so.

'guilt, carelessness, negligence and a bunch of other bad seamanship words" was when the CG captain not only watched, but continued to yell at the other boater while he piloted his boat directly into the stern of another craft. The CG was the give way vessel anyways.

Should you pay attention to other boats around you? Absolutely, but come on, this never should have happened.

Bill

 

[evinice66]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

hahaha (no one got hurt). if this was at a 4 way yield on the road the pleasurecraft had the right of way. imagine the same situation except with cars. would you hear them with the same amount of noise? no, c.g. volunteer should have slowed. this happened right were i salmon fish all the time and i can even see the pier too. mckinley marina is right were i fish all the time! milwaukee. all i can say is there are ALOT of morons in milwaukee and being a volunteer deosnt automaticly make you smart. look at the guy! brew city is all i got to say... love it... and yes those are the same boats i see all over blowing threw the no wake zones...lol

 

[mthieme]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

You can see the guys in the speed boat watching the bigger boat to their starboard. Load speakers are almost useless on the water with the motor wound up.
CG clearly at fault - right of way issue. Unless the autopilot was on and the helmsman was in the head, it almost looks deliberate.
My lawyer would have a field day with this one.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

The pilot of the CG boat drove into the speedboat, that's all I see, and that is negligence no matter how you spin it! Who knows Why? but he is the one at fault period, regardless. Even if you invoke maritime rules, he was driving the "Give Way" boat, there's no disputing that, it means you give way at all costs to avoid a collision. What was he thinking, or seeing, was he trying to set an example?

 

[Adjuster]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

I will be the first to admit I am not that well versed in the rules of the road(ocean) as I simply go slow enough to always maintain control and always at a safe distance. I have never even come close to another boater over more than idle speed. It was mentioned in another post comparing this incident to something that could happen on a city street or four way stop. So my next question is doesn't the CG boat get right of way as an emergency vehicle? The video doesn't show any lights flashing or anything but since he was on some sort of search/rescue mission I will assume for argument he had some sort of emergency signal going. On the road we always give way to an emergency vehicle. Granted still the emergency vehicle doesn't just run us over if we don't get out of the way.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

It's very important to make a distinction between the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. From my understanding, it was a Coast Guard Auxiliary boat involved in this collision. I've known a few "Yacht Club" types who were also CGA folks. I always gave those guys a wide berth, whether they were in their own boats or working as CGA guys. They weren't much as boaters, frankly.

In this case, the whole thing could have been easily avoided, and that by either boat operator. In crowded waters, a guy has to keep an eye out in all directions and react accordingly. Waving at the passengers of a party boat, instead of watching where you are going is just plain stupid, especially at speed.

As for the CGA boat, it may have been piloted by one of those "Yacht Club" boaters who liked very much wearing the CGA hat and somehow thought that he always had the right of way.

As someone pointed out, that boat was the give way boat. It did not, and collided with the smaller craft.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Coast guard hits a boat....

Title 42 comes to mind. If a person, under color of law, violates your civil rights (Certainly running you over with a Coast Guard boat fits this description) you have the right to sue that person, personally, attacking any of his assets in Federal District Court.

If I were the skipper of the small boat, I'd be after him like a Doberman in a Junkyard.

John