Yacht runs aground

How deep is water there, I m surprised they didn't try to anchor while they had time

Captain died, heart attack on the way to the hospital.

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-yachting-discussion/21174-24m-motor-yacht-accident-adriatic-sea.html

Unbelievable chain of events

I can't believe this chain of events. Double engine failure ????? Dirty fuel, no fuel at all ? The water depth in front of Brindisi harbour is 65 ft at maximimum. Anchoring should have at least slowed down the drift. Brindisi harbour has a salvage tug and a rescue boat station. Neither the professional fisherman nor the Italian coast guard could get an emergency tow going. This CG boat in the background has at least 400 to 500 hp and is manned with professional boaters and is unable to tow this 85 ft yacht away from the rocks (the harbour entrance is just around the corner) ???? They are just standing by and watching this boat being beaten to death by the waves. And finally the skipper dies on a heart attack in the ambulance car on the way to the hospital.

We all know that sh.... is gathering speed, when going downhill, but this is to much!

Gentleman, it has been proven again. If you are planning to have a major emergency by ship, boat, plane or car, do not have it in Italy !!!!!

Someone forgot their coffee today.

Okay, they forgot several coffees, today.

When you are more awake and able to read the old Threads,

since your last veiwing, have a read of this Thread (July 19th):

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/g...74-24m-motor-yacht-accident-adriatic-sea.html

Hello Old Phart.

If your statement is adressing my post, pleas tell us, what was wrong with it. I like to learn from your vast experience.

That's some dramatic and horrific video. Can anybody explain why that C.G. boat didn't put a line on them while they were still safe.

I, too, have learned much from your vast experience.

To answer your query, No.

ombreetsoleil, because he started a new Thread, instead of posting to an existing Thread.

It just makes life more tedious for Admin.

AlfredZ linked to the original Thread in his post.

Then, you added to this Thread; rather than the original.

Not helpful for the Admin.

Nobody is dying here, reading posts and banging keys; but the Admin would probably appreciate one Thread per incident.

Just saying

P.S.- Perhaps I should have skipped the coffee comment and simply posted this:



P.P.S.- For those not familiar, it's symbolic for "get up to speed - catch up."

I think the OP probably missed the original thread because of how it cues in SEARCH beginning the thread title with 24M, and I was drawn to this thread because it's more in depth with that video. That article or my translator was sorely lacking.

The CG doesn't do that, Sea Tow does. The CG will rescue the people but not the vessel.

Should we post here or on the former thread? Hold the Ketchup Old Phart!

I hazard a guess the "captain" collapsed while the incident was happening. Crew were just passengers, that could be why they were hanging around the anchor winch for much of the video, trying to figure it out.
The failure of both engines was probably followed by loss of the generator/s and electrical. Fuel problems would affect them all.
The captain may have started to drop the anchor under power, then electrical power failed (Breaker switch cuts out the anchor) and no one on board knew how to free fall the anchor.

Captain *Sh1tt-eni, manning the CG vessel, gets confused because he has no captain on the stricken boat to talk to.
And then...

I'd say post here, since this thread has more posts and more info. The Admins. can merge them when they get the chance.

That CG vessel could have gotten close enough to throw a line and call out instructions. Seemed to be plenty of time and the seas weren't that bad until they got on the rocks. I'm thinking that the skipper of the CG vessel could be related to another Italian captain who's been in the news lately.

Bad fuel is most likely, but there are other possibilities. I once blew an exhaust coupling and it choked out both motors in minutes.

Hi,

Not all CG's operate under the same rules as the USCG and Sea Tow does not exist everywhere either.

Unbelievable, there was sufficient time to rescue the yacht. I still don't understand the behaviour of those on the Coast Guard vessel.

Brindisi

Brindisi is located in the very south of Italy at the boot heel of the Italian peninsula. There is an old saying in (northern) Italy: "South of the town of Rome, is where Africa starts". I do not want to be rude or offensive against the people of southern Italy, but the people from that area have a totally different mentality than the people from the north. You can not expect the same motivation and dedication toward their profession like in the north of Italy or in northern Europe.

The total dedication and professionalism you would expect for example from a British, Dutch, Norwegian or German Rescue boat or coast guard / customs / police crew or even a land based fire fighter can not be expected in that area.

Many years ago, I was eye witness of an military aircraft take off crash at the military airbase of Brindisi, less than a kilometer away from the crash site of this yacht, where the fire fighters watched the burning jet from safe distance (with the pilot still sitting and dying in it) because they were being afraid of possible explosions. Brindisi Airbase at that time was our favorite filling station on our way to Greece and Turkey. We all knew, if sh.... would happen, we could not count on help by the authorities. B.T.W. our well known captain is from that area.

Thats why I said, if your destiny has a major emergency in your future, dont have it in southern Italy.

Something like this would not happen in Africa. I am from Africa and honestly I don't think this behaviour can happen anywhere in the world. These men on the CG vessel have no ethics and no morals, their negiligence could have easily caused the death of any member onboard the yacht. If they had saved the yacht by simply throwing it a rope, the Captian would probably be alive now. The sea conditions seen in the video are not that bad and I don't think it would have been a problem to handle the yacht.

I'd think that putting a line on a vessel drifting towards rocks with people on board or at least coming close enough to shout instructions on how to drop the anchor to a crew would be considered rescuing people. Besides, although the U.S.C.G. (this was not the U.S.C.G.) refers tows to commercial interests, I don't believe that stops them from keeping a vessel safe until a commercial tow operation can get to them.

I totally agree with you. This old Italian saying is not ment against the people of your continent, it is most likely only the opinion of the northern Italians about their own people in the south. The people from Tirol / Austria keep saying, southeast of the town of Salzburg, is where the Balkan starts. This is only local patriotism with a twinkling eye .

The rocks you can see in the video, are the man made breakwater, which protects the harbour of Brindisi from the strong winds and waves from the north. The CG boat did not have to tow the yacht. Just directing the drift, would have most likely saved the Yacht already.

Bud as mentioned above, there must have been some mistakes, wrong decisions or lack of proficiency on the yacht before. If the skipper was disabled because of heart broblems, the crew looked a bit disorganized or at least not very professional.

The Abacus 86 is build by the southern Italian yard Abacus Marine of Messina, Italy. This yacht is equipped with Cat C32, 1825 HP or MTU 12V 2000 M93, 1800 HP. These Engines do not have the tendency of instant double engine failures .

An instant double engine failure as the result of a single source malfunction (except for shortage of fuel or bad fuel) should normally not happen on a CE certified or classed vessel. Most of those total power failures (for technical reasons) on dual engine boats are operator induced. Lack of maintenance or abuse, finger trouble or operating engines outside parameters are only a few examples.

Abacus 86 (in good shape)