Captain hurt as boats collide off Magellan Quay
(CNS): Three people aboard a fishing boat were turfed into the water and the captain was injured after a collision with a sail boat on Monday night at around 9:40pm in the Governor’s Harbour area off Magellan Quay, in West Bay. While all three people from the fishing vessel made it back to shore, the captain was taken to hospital and treated for what appear to be non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured. The police, coastguard, fire service, as well as the RCIPS Air Operations Unit and EMS all responded to the marine crash, which is now under investigation by the Joint Marine Unit.
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Category: Local News
On any given night there are boats in the North Sound with no running lights. Zero enforcement efforts by the Marine Police. When the Police do go out at night, they have their blue lights blazing so no chance of catching anyone doing anything illegal.
Turn off you lights, turn on your radar, and start writing tickets to these self centered morons.
It’s hilarious that everyone is quoting the boating rules and regulations when clearly most people on the island,from the island have ,never had a boating course and would have no clue about who has to give way. It’s their water, their island, their rules. Which incidentally there are none. None that get enforced anyway. It’s never gonna change. Be careful, watch out for the other guy, and keep your vest handy. If you actually have one. That’s cayman……
Lads broadsided a 30 foot sailboat at anchor, on a clear night at that.
Makes it harder to see the ‘bergs…still, let’s stretch her legs a bit…
Not sure that if it exist but should it not, then driving/operating a boat under the influence of alcohol should carry mandatory jail time considering that their will be no “license” to suspend. I have operated boats since I was 13- and believe me, I am horrified at some of the crazy ass stuff I see happening in the North Sound in particular. Let us not forget those party boats that seemingly go out overloaded with large groups who inevitably become inebriated- those situations are a disaster waiting to happen as I can almost say with some degree of certainty that 75% of the persons on those booze cruises cant swim.
I took a picture of one of those boats leaving the Yacht Club a few weeks back and it was sitting 6 inches above the waterline heading out into the North Sound and 99% of the people who not be in good shape if that boat capsized, had about 300 people to many on it but hey the DJ and Promoter dont care; raaayyyyyyyyyy its Sundaaayyyyyyy.
I have seen large sailboats out at night without any lights. Cant give way to something if you cant see it.
Lol!
How did you see the sailboats at night if you can’t see them at night?
shut up smart arse
11:52am Have you ever seen someone wearing dark clothes whilst riding a bike at night with no lights until you do…..
Nice one.
Sail boats are all light up at night.
Power gives way to sail at all times
Not actually correct per the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Partially correct! The exemptions to that ancient rule only apply if the power vessel is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre by virtue of size, location, or other extenuating factor, and in those cases have so signalled by lights, three red at the stern, or by three balls in the stern rigging by day, AND have signalled by five blasts on the horn. The other exemption applies to a fishing vessel (this was a fishing vessel) exhibiting the correct lights whilst actively engaged in fishing. None of the above applies if the power vessel was under the command of someone who, as the Irish say, had, of the drink taken! And of course the sailing vessel must be showing the correct lights and sailing not motoring. Hope that helps!
In other words: Not actually correct since the original comment said “at all times”?
There aren’t any of the exceptions in North Sound, doofus.
You are quite confidently incorrect:
Rule 18
Responsibilities between vessels
Except where Rules 9, 10 and 13 otherwise require:
(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:
(i) a vessel not under command;
(ii) a vessel restricted in her ability to
manoeuvre;
(iii) a vessel engaged in fishing;
(iv) a sailing vessel.
a sailboat must be “under sail” to qualify for the right of way over power-driven vessels. If they’re using their small outboard motor instead, they have the same right of way as a normal powerboat.
11:57am: Over his head @ 9:52am, my friend, all the time
“At all times” is the kill for his argument 😂😂😂😂
a sailboat must be “under sail” to qualify for the right of way over power-driven vessels. If they’re using their small outboard motor instead, they have the same right of way as a normal powerboat.
If they are at anchor….
2/06@8:53am – I don’t know the circumstances of the accident and I am not a boater but I know a little about a few things. I know that power boats must give way to sail boats when on crossing paths in close proximity.
Presumably both “captains” should know that also. I would venture to say these two boats were on crossing paths in close proximity. You think?
Comes back to another positive initiative from Ezzard Miller which was ignored – required registration and training for boat operators.
9:46 am your points are valid. However, the sailboat was stationary, moored in Governors Creek.
i live on canal and have access to north sound …but refuse to go boating there…most ppl only gorum point…kaibo area to get drunk and drive boats after..recipe for disaster….meanwhile narine police sits there in A/C and says nothing….pathetic!
Wow. How do you ever leave the house? You’re far more likely to be killed on the roads.
How does everyone seem to know the fishing boat was at fault not the sailing vessel?
Basic Rule (unknown to most power boat owners) Power gives way to Sail.
Yes, but not invariably. And avoiding collisions is about more than who has right of way.
8:53 am because power boats are always supposed to give way to sail boats and in any event, the sailboat was stationary.
Because the sail boat was not even in use…. usually if someone crashes into a stationary object it’s that person‘s fault.
Unless its a telegraph pole, tree or a light post – those have been known to jump out at drivers here. Usually at night on the way home from the “office”. Seem to recall a former government minister even got attacked by a large boulder.
Not sure that’s correct. Imagine with a car: If you chose to park your car in the middle of a road at night with no lights on and someone hits you whose fault is that?
The boat hit a moored sail boat. In a big open basin. Not the same
One would expect you to be driving your car with your lights on and not be blind enough to miss a bloody car sat in the middle of the road!
Yep. Bit like hitting a completely stationary sailboat in the middle of open water on a flat calm night. And I expect the same reason for both.
“Usually”
1. Sailboat was moored (stationary)
2. Motorboat occupants including „Captain“ completely hammered.
Facts, not assumption.
Rich ppl case, wait and see if we even hear about the slap…
Hmmm,
Coast guard investigating oh dear.
Those fishing boat guys are the worst. Drunk and speed with no lights.
Emergency response time was appalling. After specifically being told the accident occurred off Magellan Quay, emergency personnel responded to the Yacht Club. Would be good to know that charges will be laid in the incident against the owner/captain of the fishing vessel. The sound of the crash was horrendously loud. Speed and alcohol were definitely factors. Any responsible boat captain would have been traveling at the maximum legal speed limit of 5 knots, in which case the collision could easily have been avoided or at the very least, limited injuries and damage.
There is also the question of why liveaboards are allowed in this area where there are NO LEGAL boat moorings. In other words, the Port Authority has not authorized these moorings and certainly not the anchoring of live-aboards.
This accident should serve as a wake-up call.
You seem to have a few opinions wrapped up here. Armchair warrior comes to mind. Where the yacht was is off the yacht club as well as Magellen Quay. Its called Governors Harbour. As for stating the obvious about speed and drink given the observations passed. And then the problem is liveaboards??? Did the accident wake you up?
They are correct about both speed limit and anchoring law. Anchoring is not allowed in Governor’s Harbour, or anywhere outside Port Authority anchorage in George Town, or within 200 yards of any Shore without explicit permission from the Port Director.
Port Authority’s Anchoring Rules say permission is required to anchor in the Poet Authority Anchorage, but does not say that is the only place you may anchor. What it does say is
“Anchoring is prohibited in marked channels, turning basins, within all Marine Park Zones and
Environmental zone (outside of the Port Anchorage Area) vessels over (60)sixty feet in length
are prohibited from anchoring.” Governors harbour isn’t mentioned specifically, and doesn’t fall into any of the excluded areas.
9:20 pm…opinions based on first-hand observation of this incident (ie within 300 yards) and many others, as well as excellent knowledge of the area and the relevant laws
Whilst I agree with what your saying let’s point out a few things, firstly just because someone is driving a boat does not make them a captain, let’s not insult the people who have spent many hours at sea and many dollars to obtain a captains certificate , because they would not be running at speed in a 5mph zone, secondly Governor’s sound / creek or whatever you want to call it has been a no wake zone for 20+ years,(trust me used to wake board in their as a kid) also a designated anchorage zone on even our outdated marine charts , this has nothing to do with liveaboards, albeit I do agree that they need regulating, how can they sit there for months at a time and not have to discharge their holding tanks?, the other issue is police/coast guard/port authority patrols in that area, virtually zero even though they are made aware of the speeding that goes on there and the channel into the creek almost daily now, far worse on the weekends, despite numerous complaints from many people they do not patrol this area, sad given it’s the busiest waterway on the island
People use captain and skipper interchangeably. In the context of a small fishing boat it obviously doesn’t imply someone is a qualified ships captain. Secondly I have seen the coastguard/police boat pulling up to people speeding in he channel between governors and NS twice in the last 6 months so they do patrol at least occasionally.
11:36 pm which comment are you replying to. You add a great deal of insight and don’t seem to be disagreeing with 8:22 pm. And definitely agreed, the person driving this boat should be called simply a driver and not a “captain”.
How much rum had been consumed?
It appears that alcohol and irresponsible youngsters were involved. Let’s hope that they get prosecuted and hopefully jailed for this reckless behaviour.
8:06 pm These were grown adults, not youngsters.
When you are old and grumpy almost everyone is a youngster!
Wrong
I heard some irresponsible mid lifers were involved.
5:53 am absolutely correct
Jailed? OMG get a grip.
8:57 am why not jail someone who is drunk and injures someone with their vehicle?
Guessing a fair amount of damage to the anchored yacht as well, wh9ch is someone’s home.
Not legal.
1. Yes it is – show me the regs that say you can’t anchor in Governors. 2. Even if it was. that makes it OK to run into them at high speed, does it? Twit.
Because he only injured himself? “There were no other injuries ” you could always read the article.
So by your argument a drunk driver is fine and should get off scott free as long as no one other than themselves is injured…. Hmmm…