Has anyone heard anything about this?

Here's the only link, I can find on the "net"

Block Island Ferry Collision

The 14:30 Eastern time update from the Boston Globe

Boston Globe

Jack

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cgrdcs,

Morrow Bay did a change of command in Newport yesterday.....

Interesting news report, 1215 collision.

1145 departure, ferry bound to Block Island from Pt.Judith, generally a SSW track.

Cutter bound towards New London, between Pt. Judith and Block Island, generally a westerly track.

Hope to see more details

Could be a short tour for the new CO.

quote:

Morrow Bay did a change of command in Newport yesterday.....

What terrible timing

Anyone have the name of the new CO?

Wray...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wray,

I'm betting the blame will go to the ferry. What crappy luck for the new CO though. I'll keep my fingers crossed until more reliable info is released.

the story continues

http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/newsblog/archives/2...alert_coast_gua.html

Sure would like to know who the CO was... I have a friend that was headed to a cutter (CO) but can't remember which one... have this feeling it may have been the Morrow Bay... Sure hope I am wrong.

The person I am thinking of was a former BM school instructor, and last I knew he was in New London.. Think I got an e-mail that he was oin PCO/XO school. He was also an OIC on a WYTL.

Wray...

I was out there fluke fishing today, heard all the commotion on the radio. Visiblity was less then 1/2 mile. Not a good day for Mariners Wray. On the news here they're calling it a "disaster".

I love it when folks argue about Nav Rules and who had the Right of Way. Obviously they haven't looked at the regs since before 1972, when EVERYONE lost the RIGHT OF WAY.
(speaking about the blog linkes above)

I read some of those blog links. Most were written by people who have no clue as to life in a wheel house.

That area, Block Island Sound and surrounding areas, can be extremely challenging for a ship handler.

Even with Radars; ARPA; AIS; Bridge to Bridge; STCW and lookouts confusion can and will exist.

Having served as OIC of two cutters and a license master (1600 tons oceans) for thirty years, I'll refrain from passing judgment on my peers and let the experts around the Green Table sort it out.

I served with the LT who just assumed Command. He is a good Officer with a strong BOSN background. It will be interesting to see the final report.

Having been an Underway OOD, I can speak to some of this, and navigating anything there in daylight is tricky, much less fog.

It could have been much worse though, they could have run aground in Woods Hole Pass like the CGC Hammerhead did a few years ago.

Interesting to note that the witnesses say the ferry was sounding fog signals, and the CGC appeared 100 ft off the bow.

What is certain, is that there was a failure on multiple levels. Was there a lookout posted? Special sea detail? Where were these folks? What were the OOD and QMOW doing? Where was the CO. While the CO might indeed loose his new job, the actual fault will lie with several.

Not knowing the facts, I think its very safe to assume that someone wasnt looking at the radar. Collide with a small boat or sailboat in fog is one thing. You hit a ferry of that size? No excuse..

Former U/W Officer of the Deck in that exact area sends.

T

quote:

I served with the LT who just assumed Command

Can you e-mail me his name or initials?

Thanks,
Wray...

I knew and served with the CO as well. He is an honorable and a respectable leader who I looked up too. Just my two cents. As far as for Shallowwater's comment that was uncalled for.

I think I know him as well... and I agree with the comments of ChiefWJS.... however, regardless of who this person is, it certainly could be a short tour. Definately not the way to start out. I'm sure you would agree with that.

On this one, I hope I am wrong on all counts.

Wray...

My dad told me he heard about this in the news, so I came here first to see what I could learn. Then I googled it.

In the WBZ article, a ferry passenger is quoted, among other things, as saying the ferry ran into the Coast Guard cutter "... after hitting the Coast Guard boat," he said. This is the only reference I could find as to who ran into whom.

WBZ TV News piece

According to my vague recollections of the application of Rule 2, the Responsibility rule, "Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof ...", and if both Captains were observing rule 19, we may not have anything to discuss here.

We don't know the facts in this case. I imagine we will soon enough.

I found this link to the NAVRULES. USCG Navigation Rules

But, CGC Morro Bay is out of New London, why would they have a change of command in Newport and not in their homeport? Did they have their own COC, or were they attending that of another unit?

My best to all concerned.

--Jim
Life is good!

My background: DWO on a Hawaii based ALPATin' 378' WHEC and an XPO/DWO on a 175' WLM. I spent 4 years at Station Castle Hill (as a BM1, and made Chief there)in Newport RI. The fog can be extremely thick in that whole area. Dependable electronics is crucial there as it is anywhere. The fog was so thick during one Monday morning rush hour the boat crew could barely see the bullnose on the 41, yet saw the shadow of a jumper they were watching for as he missed the boat by less than 5 feet.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BMCS,

Before placing blame we should wait to see if there were any mechnical problems with either ship.