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Capt Lou's Nautical News 5/30/10
Posted on: Mon 31-May-2010
| | TOP KILL FAILS TO STOP OIL LEAK
BP has announced that its Top Kill method to stop the oil leak in the Gulf has failed. They now say only relief pressure wells are the surest way to stop the leak, but it will be August before this can be accomplished. In the meantime, BP will be trying to place another cap over the well head this week.
ALCOHOL BLAMED FOR BOATERS' DEATHS
A New Bedford man is being held on $10,000 bail facing five felony charges, two counts of operating a boat to endanger, death resulting; two counts of operating a watercraft under the influence, death resulting; and one count of reckless boating causing personal injuries. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Investigators say that alcohol played a major role in the boat accident that happened two weeks ago on Despair Island in Narragansett Bay. Two young Massachusetts women lost their lives and all five on board were injured after the mechanic claimed he "borrowed" a 22 foot motor boat and took it out for a midnight joyride. According to court papers, the five had been drinking at three different places for several hours before taking the boat out and crashing it on the pile of rocks known as Despair Island in Narragansett Bay. Blood tests taken at the hospital after the boat crash showed that the operator's blood-alcohol content was above Rhode Island's legal limit of .08. The reckless driving charge was for driving too fast at night and not being able to stop in half the distance of what could be seen. When the boat hit the rocks of small Despair Island, it continued 106 feet across the island and landed upside down with its throttle wide open and the speedometer needle stuck at 39 mph. The maximum speed limit for nighttime boating in Rhode Island 25 miles per hour.
NO RED TIDE DESPITE DIRE PREDICTION
And remember a couple months ago, marine biologists warned of an impending severe red tide that would affect New England. The warning back in February was said to be based on samples of the red tide algae taken off the Maine coast. Thankfully, the dire prediction didn't happen. The seeds never blossomed despite the warm weather and springtime floods. Scientists now say with every passing day, the chances are less and less of a red tide affecting New England this summer.
MASS ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAIN SUES COAST GUARD
And still another old story back in our news. The state is again suing the Coast Guard. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is continuing her fight against the Coast Guard even though lower courts have ruled in favor of the Coast Guard. It is all about a state law that was passed after the 2003 Bouchard barge oil spill in Buzzards Bay. The state law stipulated that all barges carrying oil, whether single or double hulled, must have a tug boat escort when navigating through Buzzards Bay. The law also called for additional crew and lookouts on vessels towing tank barges. The Coast Guard regulations require tug escorts only for single-hulled vessels, and the Coast Guard regulations do not require the additional crew and lookouts. So far, federal laws have trumped the state's laws, but Coakley claims she will eventually beat the Coast Guard.
BOAT HITS SUBMERGED PIPE
Two fishermen were injured on the Parker River in Yarmouth Cape Cod when their boat ran over an unmarked pipe left over from a dredging project. The men said they were headed out to go fishing a little after noon when their boat hit a 300 foot long pipe floating about 6 inches below the surface of the water. The impact tore the motor off the boat's hull. One fisherman hurt his chest and rib cage after being thrown into the steering wheel and the other man hurt his when he fell down when the boat suddenly stopped. Both were treated at Cape Cod Hospital.
KAYAKER RESCUED IN QUINCY
Closer to home, a 31-year-old man fell out of a kayak off the coast of Quincy, but was found safe on Thompson Island. A cut off cell phone call to his mother at 10PM made his mother believe her son was in trouble. She called Quincy police, and they called the State Police Marine Unit and the Coast Guard. Using a heat-sensing device and night vision goggles, state police found the man standing at the water's edge on Thompson Island. He told them he had gotten caught in a strong rip tide and fell out of his kayak. It took him about 30 minutes to swim to shore.
BOAT SINKS 9 MILES OFF ROCKPORT
And yet another rescue. This one on the North Shore. The Coast Guard rescued two men after their pleasure boat sank about nine miles north of Rockport, Mass. Coast Guard Station Gloucester received a cell phone call from the men reporting their boat, the 30-foot Happy Days, was taking on water. The station advised the men to put on their life jackets and the boat sank shortly thereafter. The Coast Guard worked with the cell phone company to determine the approximate location of the men's last known position. Soon thereafter, a Coast Guard crew in a jet plane spotted the two in the water. Putting on the lifejackets before the boat sank is credited with saving both of their lives.
BOATING INDUSTRY STILL VITAL TO U.S. ECONOMY
Data published by the National Marina Manufacturers Association shows the boating industry still remains vital to U.S. economy, generating $30.8 billion in sales/services in 2009. However, that is 9% less than in 2008. Also, adult participation in boating dropped by only 6% compared to last year, but that 6% represents 4 million people who no longer have a boat.
FIGAWI RACE THIS WEEKEND
The 39th annual Figawi Race, Hyannis to Nantucket, took place yesterday. The Memorial Day Weekend spectacular, which signals the start of the on-the-water season, included 230 sailboats, about 3,000 sailors, and another 28 powerboats. Although it wasn't stormy, the wind was blowing, making sea conditions quite rough. Today, everyone recovers, and then on Memorial Day, the race resumes back to Hyannis. The late Senator Kennedy's boat, the Mya, a 50-foot Concordia, was also in the race with Kennedy's son, Ted Jr., at the helm.
CREWMAN FALLS OFF WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP
The world's largest cruise ship, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, skipped a port call at St. Thomas to search for a crew member who went overboard. Security cameras did indeed show the person going overboard off Nassau. The captain turned the ship around to search for the person and notified the Coast Guard. The ship returned to Fort Lauderdale after two days at sea with passengers receiving a rebate for time lost at sea.
TITANIC MEMORIAL CRUISE
And last on today's nautical news, tickets are still available for a Titanic Memorial Cruise, scheduled on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy. The cruise, organized by a British travel agency, will take 1,350 passengers on the exact same route the RMS Titanic followed 100 years ago. The cruise will begin April 8th, 2012, and hopefully will not end a week later as it cruises across the Atlantic. On April 14, the ship will be positioned at the actual site where the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank.
Listen to the live broadcast of "Nautical Talk Radio" with Capt Lou and crew, Sunday mornings from 11 - 12 noon (Boston time) on radio station 95.9FM WATD, Marshfield, and streaming around the world on www.959watd.com. You can also listen to a replay of the most recent show anytime during the week at www.nauticaltalk.com.
* Winner of Mass/Rhode Island Associated Press "BEST TALK SHOW"
* Recipient of Coast Guard's Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service
* Recipient of American Lighthouse Foundation's "LEN HADLEY AWARD"
* Winner of Boston's Achievement In Radio "BEST INTERVIEW" AWARD
* Nominated Boston's A.I.R. "BEST PRODUCED PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM"
* Recipient of Man of the Year Award - Metropolitan Yacht Club - 2009
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