Dive Boat goes over on Tweed Bar!

[PinHead]

Another dive boat over..off Straddie today

[Heath]

Jeffo,

With the conditions at the time, common sence should have prevailed.

Outgoing tide
2m+ seas peaking at 5m or more.
Stiff SE wind
A strong wind warning

Common sence, thats all.

I've made no secrets in my incident on the Tweed, infact it was myself who posted it.

My incident was on the incomming tide, light winds. Also I was a few hundred meters outside the bar, when I encountered the wave. No one ended up in the drink, no boat was overturned. It was the landing from this large wave that caused the injury.

None the less an incident, from which I have learnt to never take the ocean for granted.

I certainly would not entertain the thought of running the bar in the condition that it was yesterday.

If the skipper has run the Tweed in similar conditions, I reckon it would be more good fortune than good skill in not having an incident before hand.

Common sence or lack of, is what I am disgusted with.
This is what I am judging the incident on. Not only were the 12 passengers put at risk, but so were all the VMR rescuers who went to their aid.

Maybe I'm not qualified to judge the skipper the way I have, but I certainly use common sence at judging conditions where the risk of injury far outweigh a safe crossing.

[smerl]

Ten people have been rescued after a dive charter boat overturned in waters near North Stradbroke Island off Brisbane.

Volunteer marine rescue and a rescue helicopter came to the aid of the divers and crew.

All 10 people were taken to North Stradbroke Island where they were treated for minor injuries.

It is the second dive boat incident in the region in two days.

Twelve people were rescued when a dive boat overturned in rough surf conditions near the Queensland-New South Wales border yesterday.

From the ABC website. I dont know whether this happened on the bar or outside, however it can't be doing much for Qld tourism (or the insurance costs for dive charters ).

[Big_Kev]

Romeo Damo. Copy that now.

[sclmarine]

Hmm.... interesting "opinions". However, one thing is crystal clear... at the end of the day it is the skipper whom is ultimately responsible!
That is not only common sense... it is also the law. Sadly although anyone can make a mistake, and accidents sometimes are unavoidable there are some foolish people who push the envelope too far. In this case, I do not pretend to know the boat... nor the reasons for the "judgement call" on the day, so it may have been stupid... or may not. If an engine had failed, that no doubt would have certainly caused problems if it was "beyond the point of no return" but again that is probably not the be all and end all of it.
As to whether the boat is in fact "suitable" for the number of persons it is surveyed for... that is a matter one would think for the surveyor... and USL guidelines.
Best to leave it to the authorities... and maybe... just maybe we may see some new guidelines for this type of operation... especially with the crossing of bars.

Cheers,

Kris

[Big_Kev]

QUOTE "heath... no offence mate but if you have had an accident in your own boat crossing a bar who are you to bad mouth someone else for having one?

Jeffo no offence mate but any skipper who crosses coastal bars on a regular basis will have there share of close calls.
It is this that will allow you as a skipper to know the limitations of your boat. And until you do know, you should err on the side of caution until confident.
But with the current forecasts with big swell being whipped by strong winds and fast outgoing tide, the smart people have there boats at home.
As Rob has said the boat was probably the best to do the job but load it with people (who the skipper is responsable for) and all the gear that goes with it then the mind boggles.
Like I said no offence but some experience past on may save someones neck and embarresment some time.
Cheers Kev.

[landy1]

Hmmm the knives are out and in a few backs it seems, But seriously guys accidents are just that, accidents. 20/20 hindsight is wonderfull but im sure weve all done stupid things in the past, i know i have What counts is no one was hurt or lost at sea and thats my 2 cents
Cheers
Mick

[blaze]

hi all
can somebody please explain to the queenslanders which way a boat sits in the water, 2 in 2 days, no offence to anybody on this chat as i am sure from reding the posts that you guys are probley the ones with a bit of grey matter between the ears
keep em the right way
cheers
blaze

[PinHead]

I hate to tell ya blaze...but the Tweed River is in NSW..so the score is currently..Qld..1. NSW..1 But their boat had more people in it. But...neither accident should really have occurred..they could both have been fatal which no one wants at all.

[blaze]

hi pinhead
get ya point about tweed but still. like ya say, just lucky lives hav'nt been lost
cheers
blaze

[Kerry]

Some time ago I was aware that these types of vessels were supposed to have some rather severe restrictions put on them (by the transport department) for specifically these types of purposes and these types of reasons. As a result of this there were (as I understand it) several manufacturers of these types of vessels who simply didn't have any good reason to continue production.

The restrictions basically equated to restricting distance offshore (in some cases down to 2nm) and passenger numbers. From memory one of the reasons (I think?) was the freeboard and being so so low in the water and difficult to spot in rough conditions.

It simply doesn't matter if the vessel still floats or what its design is as if it's floating upside down then it just about looses all intended functionally.

Regardless of if it was best boat to do the job with and obviously in both these cases it was NOT as those vessels might have been ok with 2 or so on board but certainly not 10 to 12 and then all their dive gear too boot, no bloody way were they suitable in those conditions under the circumstances.

Cheers, Kerry.

[Reefmaster]

The skipper of the Tweed Bar accident has to face court soon. Im sure he will be charged

[mono]

This info is from a document I have from NSW Waterways Authority. It applies to my 7 metre commercial vessel but I'm sure that the vessel involved at Tweed would come under similar guide lines if working in NSW waters.
Good on you Heath for having a say.

VESSELS OPERATING OVER BAR ENTRANCES.
Point 5. Vessels shall not proceed to sea or enter the ports listed below if the maximum wind speed is in excess of twenty (20) knots or the swell height is greater than 2 metres.
34 ports listed. Tweed River is one of them.
Point 6. When the vessel is transiting the entrance of one of the ports listed in item 5 above, the master is to hold the appropriate Bar Endorsement for that bar crossing, etc.

I also am glad no one was hurt, especially those that left their families to go and try and rescue these people in ridiculus conditions.

Capt Mark Mono Stewart

[clutter]

Heard this evening that the skipper is to be charged with incorrect navigation of a bar. (not exactly the correct wording but reasonably close I think).

Someone touched on it in an earlier post but the ones I am always concerned for are the rescue authorities, wether they be volunteer or emergency services. They are the poor beggers who have to put it on the line to save everyone. Two paramedics lost their lives down south while on their way to a motor vehicle accident. Don't know why you would want to be one but thank god that someone does.

Cheers, Clutter

[searaider]

Regarding the second dive boat that got turned over on the outside of the South Passage bar today.
On channel 7 news tonight they were talking to one of the crew from a rescue boat , he looked like a waterpoliceman .
He advised that one of the rescue craft turned back after trying to get through the bar as they were conserned for the safety of their boat & the people on board .
I know that we probably dont get the full story from the news stories , but when they interviewed the Driver of the boat he didn't seem overly concerned .He said that the bar didn't seem that bad ,and all the people were Ok and that they were only in the water a short time before they were rescued .
( He may have been in shock / but what a thing to say )
I hope that we hear the outcome of the investigations into both of the accident's .
Note
The boat overturned at the South Passage bar looked like a Cat and it was reported to be 6 meters long .
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