[Marmot]

Originally Posted by Capt J

The problem is, once a yacht is built, it never gets inspected by the flag state after that usually.

You are talking about an entirely separate universe of yachts that is totally irrelevant to Yogi and its type.

Flag and Class and management are (supposed to be) very involved in the operation of large commercial yachts and how and by whom they are crewed.

[Mike448]

Originally Posted by Capt J

The problem is, once a yacht is built, it never gets inspected by the flag state after that usually.

Wrong!!! Maybe thats how it works in the US (I don't know), but all classed and commercially flagged (and most privately registered) yachts are inspected annually by law, by both the Flag State and the Classification society, and in many areas these surveys overlap i.e. both inspect the same equipment. Manning requirements are checked by the flag state at that time too. All vessels over 500gt also fall under the requirements of the ISM System which incorporates a multitude of checks and balances.

The only time a vessel like Yogi can cut corners is between the annual surveys, for example when on a delivery where perhaps some crew may be allowed vacation time and perhaps the vessel might proceed to see under-manned according to it's Safe Manning Document.

[C4ENG]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt J View Post
The problem is, once a yacht is built, it never gets inspected by the flag state after that usually.

Originally Posted by Mike448

Wrong!!!

I do not believe Capt J is completely wrong. You are right in saying that the flag state is suppose to survey the vessel but weather or not it really happens is the real question to be told. I have seen plenty of vessels that are far behind the curb in dealing with there follow up surveys for countless reasons; constant crew turn overs, lack of cooperation from owners, people simply do not know, Captains don't want to fight the fight and be told what to do, on and on.. surveys not completed in timely fashion.

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by C4ENG

I have seen plenty of vessels that are far behind the curb in dealing with there follow up surveys for countless reasons; constant crew turn overs, lack of cooperation from owners, people simply do not know, Captains don't want to fight the fight and be told what to do, on and on.. surveys not completed in timely fashion.

If the boat is classed, if it is commercially operated, and is over 500 tons then there is no option for the nonsense you just posted. If the surveys are not completed then the certificates are invalid and the boat is just a collection of uninsured and very expensive parts.

When we are talking about boats like Yogi, we are not talking about the kind of junk you keep telling us about. They are commercial vessels that fall under very well defined standards of operation and maintenance. Yes, there are a few of them that are so badly managed and operated that they resemble private boats run by cheapskates and amateurs but nonetheless, there are rules and standards that when applied and followed are supposed to prevent idiots from running them and setting them on fire or sinking them.

Yogi was one of the boats that class and flag are supposed to regulate to the point where a greater degree of safety is obtained. The manning of those boats is supposed to preclude the employment of incompetent or poorly trained crews.

I firmly believe the only thing that would not pass a thorough survey on Yogi was the crew. If i am correct, Flag needs to make that clear and tell us what went wrong and how we might avoid a repeat. If we need to change licensing and training standards, and make it retroactive, so be it. Like I keep saying, if we wait until we kill a billionaire's child it will be too late for the commercial yacht industry. Yogi should be a wake up call for a lot of people.

[Capt J]

Yeah, but is Yogi over 500 Gross Tons or Net Registered Tons at 160'? I was just on a 105' and it was only 201 GT.