Findings Issued in Block Island Ferry Collision

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

The National Transportation Safety Board recently issued its findings that both a Coast Guard cutter and a Block Island ferry involved in a collision on July 2, 2008, committed errors that led to the accident.


Findings Issued in Coast Guard, Ferry Collision Case | BoatingLocal.com

[Boasun]

The USCG promises to sound fog signals and post lookouts?
Gesh! They just admitted that they were in violations of the Rules of the Road and they want to judge the rest of us? A good admirality lawyer can have a fun time with that admission.

[billyruffn]

Slightly off-topic, but it reminded me of the day a few weeks ago when we found ourselves anchored in Sandy Hook in a dense fog and wanting to get home to Newport. Weighing the risks, I turned on the AIS, radar, chart plotter and all the other nav. gear, pulled up the anchor and we slowly (at 3-4 knots) made our way towards NY harbor keeping outside the channels, but close enough that we could verify the numbers on the bouys as we passed them.

Given that I ventured out I was not surprised that others were also on their appointed rounds, but what I found astounding was that the SeaStreak ferries that run from Atlantic Highlands to the city were operating as if there was no restriction in visibility. My AIS system informed me that as they “streaked” past me they were doing 28-32 knots. Given the differentials in our speeds the same boat passed me several times as he kept to their schedule. They called me once to make sure that we were on the same page regarding how they would pass, but how they can say that they were safely navigating is beyond me.

Even if they put a lookout on the bow, in those conditions at 30 knots a lookout is useless. And as for fog signals.....it reminds me of the Mexican bandito’s quip (see YouTube - ‪We don't need no stinking badges!‬‏)

“Fog signals? Fog signals? We don’t need no stinking fog signals”.

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

Here is the complete NTSB Report:

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2011/MAR1101.pdf

[Tempest]

Thanks for posting this!

I was on the water that day...heading for Block Island from Old Saybrook Conn. The Fog on the LI Sound was much denser, I had barely 25 ft of visibility. I turned around and followed my track back to port. There was plenty of visibility on the Connecticut River.

I went back to the dock, fueled up picked up a couple of extra air horns and waited a few hours and tried again....it had still not lifted....by this time I was losing my fair current window...SO...we went back to the Pool at Saybrook Point....Heard the accident chatter on the Radio.

[SVAuspicious]

I anchored in Point Judith Harbor of Refuge about 0200 on Monday morning last in dense fog. Visibility was about 50 feet. In the morning, with the same dense fog, the ferry was running (I could clearly hear the engines and see them on radar) with no sound signals.

Just stupid.

[Flybyknight]

There goes a bunch of careers down the drain.
Sad.

Dick

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

Here is a SailNet thread from 2008 when the collision took place:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/seaman...and-ferry.html

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

Story today in the Block Island Times

Ferry and Coast Guard share blame for 2008 collision - Pippa Jack - Block Island Times - News, Classifieds, Events and Business in Block Island, RI