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Boat Colission Savannah

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by BMS, Mar 18, 2010.

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  1. BMS

    BMS Senior Member

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  2. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    That one ought to be cut and dried. I'm betting the barge had the right of way no matter what the headings were either constrained by draft, limited maneuverability, or engaged in dredging operations. The Sea Ray had to be doing something stupid unless this was some kind of super speedy super maneuverable dredging barge. As an aside, I could see that very spot from our living room window when I was growing up.
  3. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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    So is the moral of this story is it's better to hit a barge than a buoy? :D

    Judy
  4. BMS

    BMS Senior Member

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    I still don't have any particulars but I will post as soon as I know more. I'm not sure why they would escort it to the Westin though there are no repair facilities or a haul out there. There is a Sea Ray dealership on the ICW that would have been the same distance but i'm sure they had a good reason to go to the Westin instead.
  5. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Hehe. I dunno, at least buoys don't have crew to witness and testify to your seamanship.
  6. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Room service and a pool?
  7. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    The only thing here that is cut and dried is that your statement is really foolish.

    First off, the other vessel involved is not a barge. It is the Manson Construction Company trailing suction hopper dredge "Bayport." It is a highly maneuverable vessel.

    Second, nothing has been published (at least to this hour) that says if the dredge was engaged in dredging operations, was light or loaded, or anything else about the circumstances leading to the incident.
  8. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Ya wanna bet who's found primarily at fault right here, right now?

    It may be maneuverable for a 280 foot boat but do you really believe it's more manueverable than a 50' Sea Ray?

    I know where this happened. It's a narrow dredged channel from the mouth of the Savannah River to deep wate 12 miles offshore. Depth outside the channel could be on the order of 10-15'. I'm guessing even lightly loaded the barge, oops boat, might draw more than was available outside the channel.

    Despite what the reports say it was not in Savannah. Savannah is some 18 miles up the Savannah River from the coast. This incident happened 4 miles off the coast of Tybee Island.

    I'll give you I leaped to a conclusion with little in the way of facts but I'll bet you when all the facts are in I'll still be right.
  9. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    No thanks. I will wait for the facts to be published before making that kind of judgement.
  10. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    By the way, you did notice my initial statement was devoid of absolutes? Or in other words speculation? I suppose idle speculation on an event that can in no way impact my life is foolish anyway. Gosh, if I could only be you!
  11. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    You mean like : "The Sea Ray had to be doing something stupid ..."

    If you could be like me you wouldn't have posted such a stupid statement.
  12. curtarmy

    curtarmy New Member

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    Judy.... You must look more closely at the evidence in the pic. Clearly it was the changing currents (caused by the changing depths) that dragged the boat accross the side of the barge. Current direction is shown clearly by the direction the fishing rod is pointing!

    ;) Curt
  13. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Yeah that and I have better manners than to insult random strangers on an Internet forum. But then lots of weak silly people gain supreme courage and knowledge when behind the keyboard.

    I do know if you did that to my 50' Sea Ray you would be out of a job unless it was dead in the water with both engines inoperative.
  14. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    How do you know it wasn't?
  15. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    It's true I don't. The damage is to the stern so maybe the barge just ran over them. We'll see.
  16. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    "I'm betting the barge had the right of way no matter what the headings were either constrained by draft, limited maneuverability, or engaged in dredging operations."

    "Ya wanna bet who's found primarily at fault right here, right now?
    It may be maneuverable for a 280 foot boat but do you really believe it's more manueverable than a 50' Sea Ray?"

    just curiuous, which COLREG states that maneuvravility and size plays a role?
    and where do the COLREGs give any vessel "teh right of way" (except on western rivers)

    the only sure thing is that BOTH captains failed to avoid a collision
  17. BMS

    BMS Senior Member

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    Ok guys. I took some friends out to take in the sights for St Patty's day and went via Sav River. The dredge that was involved was as of today when I saw it involved in dredgeing operations it is well marked and visible. Now I wasn't out yesterday but I am sure that the facts will be available soon. The boat went to the Westin because it was the closest dock the news made it sound like it was offshore and the boat made it to the dock on her own power. I took some pics with my phone and will be posting the shortly. Im just glad no one was hurt this could have been much worse...
  18. BMS

    BMS Senior Member

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    50' Sea Ray

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  19. BMS

    BMS Senior Member

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    Sorry the pics aren't good took them from my phone
  20. BMS

    BMS Senior Member

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    Most all damage appears to be on the port side above the waterline.