Ouzo Maib Report

[duncan]

MAIB report 12/4/2007

[AHoy]

The Ouzo incident provides sombre reading and irrespective of any official recommendations should prompt us to check our plans for such circumstances. Having experienced a cross-channel ferry bearing down on me at speed whilst I was under sail made me realize the limited time and options available on a small craft to deal with such a position.

 

In my opinion once there is a risk of collision the highest priority must be establishing contact with the approaching (and possibly unknown) vessel. For this there is a lot to be said for visual communication with the prompt use of warning flares (day or night) to make your presence more obvious - prompt would mean having suitable flares ready to hand at all times. With the availability of VHF radio then a call on the inter-ship navigation safety channel (CH.13 bridge-to-bridge) would probably be more appropriate than using CH.16. If you have an AIS receiver/display then identification of the other vessel allows VHF calling to be specific. None of this applies, of course, without a good watch being kept as the situation develops rapidly with our typical 3 mile horizon and maybe 20 knot speeds involved.

 

Having been involved in coastal surveillance radar trials I would never assume that small boats such as ours were visible on radar, even with reflectors fitted, once the sea state was more than slight. The radar reflector evaluations and recommendations will make interesting reading when published in May.

 

[Newboy]

Just wondering how would one riase the alarm, supposed it's not too bad if its a ferry, you can id it but say P&O, but if it's a container ship in a bust shipping lane, if you can read its name, there's not much anyone can do.

[Adam F]

The large commercial ships will be monitoring Ch16 and also the commercial channels - so a call on the VHF along the lines of:

 

' The container vessel at position 001 52 151 002 03 111 this is xxx xxx ' should be sufficiant to get the boat's attention - this is certianly how I have heard it doen in the past.

[Manic Moore]

 

 

Can you speak Philipino then Adam

[Paul D]

I am going to await the report on Radar Reflectors before ordering one.

The other interesting parts were the use of crotch straps on a lifejacket and the recommendations re: liferaft.

 

[Paul J]

Paul, this is where your horn would come into play, you must demonstrate that at the next meeting

 

PJ

[duncan]

I'm with ahoy on this

 

if you think you are in danger and cannot solve the situation alone - white flare white flare white flare

 

then get to the niceties of vhf calls - but even then only after liferaft, checked jackets, grab bag with vhf

 

all with a final view to 5 seconds on the red button...............you do have a red button don't you