Posted on 10/02/2005 1:59:20 PM PDT by CedarDave
Fox News reporting a tour boat named the "Ethan Allen" has overturned in a lake in northern New York state. 46-50 persons were on board and rescues are on going. Searching for an AP link...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Hard to say, from the available information. About licenses: Yes, any vessel carrying passengers for hire requires a license. The 6-pack license for up to 6 passengers, and either a Limited Master for various tonnages up to 100 tons or Unlimited Master beyond that. I'm not familiar with the 'inland operator' license... but I wasn't inland, so I dunno. With regard to wake damage... yes, a skipper is generally responsible for damage caused by his wake. I think, however it is usually construed to mean damage to materiel and persons on shore or moored, not so much to other vessels that are also underway. In that case, the skipper of the damaged vessel, who's underway, is also responisble for operation of his vessel given the exant conditions. There's a reasonableness standard here... If Mohican was operating at a normal and reasonable speed in common with other vessels of that type in that location... in other words... he's doing what he always does and what everybody else there does in that channel... then it is unlikely that there is any fault on the part of Mohican. In that case, the fault would be on Ethan Allen for not anticipating the known conditions in that area. But there's lots of information missing that needs to be known. If Mohican was operating recklessly or moving at a speed that was unreasonable for that location... then he's on the hook.
"Name one instance where life jackets are typically worn on a tour boat."
People who don't wear life jackets, when underway, as just asking for trouble.
It's not a requirement BUT
"Luck favors the prepared."
Yeah cool like as in ex-wife cool.
I have never, on any tour boat, pleasure boat or ferry, ever seen any passenger ask for and wear a life jacket. The only exception is charter boats crossing the bar and then once clear of the bar they often remove them. Other than that, never. Why are you implying something that never happens is common?
I'm cool to most, but evidently jerks hate me. ;~D
No. That's silly. Passenger ferries and tour boats, cruise boats and the like will simply never require their passengers to wear life vests. Nor should they. It is simply wildly impractical.
http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html
Coast Guard Vessel Documentation
You asked for a vessel with a name like "ETHAN ALLEN". That selection resulted in 1 matches.
(1 of 1) Vessel Name: SPIRIT OF ETHAN ALLEN III USCG Doc. No.: 1051573
Vessel Service: PASSENGER (MORE THAN 6) IMO Number: *
Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry Call Sign: WCX3132
Hull Material: STEEL Hull Number: 71
Shipyard
and Address: CHESAPEAKE SHIPBLDG CORP
* Year Built: 1997
Hullyard
and Address: *
SALISBURY MD Length (ft.): 120.8
Hailing Port: BURLINGTON VT Hull Depth (ft.): 10
Owner: MESA LEASING LTD
348 FLYNN AVE
BURLINGTON, VT 05401 Hull Breadth (ft.): 32
Gross Tonnage: 94
Net Tonnage: 59
Documentation Issuance Date: September 20, 2004 Documentation Expiration Date: October 31, 2005
Previous Vessel Names: CAMELOT
Previous Vessel Owners: No Vessel Owner Changes
I know what you're saying, Tonk... but crossing the NW river bars is one thing. Cruise and ferry passenger practicality is another.
And speaking of NW river bars... unless it's a gumby suit, a PFD merely makes recovery of the body easier.
I don't like laws but putting a life jacket on kids, and people who can't swim sounds practical to me.
"Why are you implying something that never happens is common?"
I didn't say that at all.
What I said was
"Luck favors the prepared."
Vessel Information
SPIRIT OF ETHAN ALLEN III 1051573 71 UNITED STATES WCX3132 1997
Click for all the data
http://cgmix.uscg.mil/PSIX/PSIX2/detail.asp?vkey=&VesselID=453708
That's this boat, not the one that overturned:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/zaia/Vermont/SpiritofEthanAllen.jpg
Well, I wasn't gonna bring that up, but the thought did cross my terribly immature and tasteless mind.
I'm thankful I only deal with Commercial Fishing Vessels
They are required to conduct monthly safety drills, including donning survial suits.
Emergency Drills and Safety Training Requirements (PDF file)
http://www.offsoundings.com/PDF%20FILES/38DRILLS.pdf
http://www.cfvsea.com
Webmaster and Plank Owner
Commercial Fishing Vessel
Safety Examiners Association
HairOfTheDog is truly a nice person, you guys.
I'm OK Sam :~D If they would insult the hobbit hole, we can write them off as being misinformed on at least that count.
You are correct of course; Not only irresponsible, but provably negiligent and this company (and their insurance company) will pay big $ as a result. Comfort issue as the reason for no life vests? I hope they were comfortable when they drowned as the boat went down.
There's a big difference between a large passenger ferry/cruise ship, and this little boat. It would have taken all of 10 minutes to put life vests on the passengers prior to the boat going out.
If the lake borders two or more states, the US CG has jurisdiction.
I can't find anything under
Ethan Allen
In either systems that are public access
Port State Information eXchange (PSIX)
http://cgmix.uscg.mil/PSIX/PSIX2/VesselSearch.asp
Vessel Documentation Search By Name
http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
