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Captain lands in hospital after jumping off yacht

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by C4ENG, Apr 18, 2013.

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  1. C4ENG, Apr 18, 2013
    #1
    C4ENG

    C4ENG Senior Member

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    I received an e mail from a friend today who works an a 200ft well known yacht. He explained a disturbing experience while at anchor this week. The captain wanted to impress the owners and guess by doing a swan dive off the top deck. The attempt was not successful and the captain required shore side hospital attention after the jump. The exact nature of of his injuries are not 100% clear at this moment, possibly dislocated shoulder, but I was told the Capt was expected to return to the vessel the same evening after being released from a Bahamian medical facility. At this time I do not know if he was released or not to return to the vessel.
    My question is, is there a law about a captain going into the water (as opposed to a life threatening situation) and especially with guess and owners on board the vessel at anchor? If so who would be enforcing this ruling?
    This vessel is a Cayman Island Flagged commercially registered charter vessel over 500T
  2. wscott52, Apr 18, 2013
    #2
    wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Stupid but I doubt it was illegal especially if the yacht was at anchor. If it were illegal the Capt. would basically be a prisoner on the yacht. A 200' yacht undoubtedly has other officers onboard who could move the yacht in an emergency situation.
  3. C4ENG, Apr 18, 2013
    #3
    C4ENG

    C4ENG Senior Member

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    I am curious as to how you feel that a captain could be held like a prisoner on the vessel if there is classification ruling or IMO law about a captain purposely entering the water from the safety of the vessel in a non emergency event while responsible for the passengers on board the vessel while out at sea.
  4. Pascal, Apr 18, 2013
    #4
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Vessel was anchored... Not at sea...

    Unless there are any rules prohibiting the captain from leaving the vessel while anchored I fail to see what the problem is

    Being in the water isn't much different from being on the tender or something. Obviously though the guy needs to work on his diving skills :)
  5. Beau, Apr 18, 2013
    #5
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Are his injuries considered "on duty" injuries on these facts? Dunno
  6. captholli, Apr 18, 2013
    #6
    captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    I only hope that he pointed his toes upon entry:eek: and the guests marked their score cards correctly! Three point deduction for having to be helped back onto the swim platform!!
  7. Fishtigua, Apr 18, 2013
    #7
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    The skipper of the Lady Ghislaine (now Lady Mona K), 180' Amels once owned by the late, disgraced Robert Maxwell, fell off the rear-end of the boat in Spain. Face down in the water and full of beer, he was not well for a very long time afterwards.

    Accidents happen. No blame, no claim.
  8. captainwjm, Apr 18, 2013
    #8
    captainwjm

    captainwjm Senior member

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    You pose this as a rhetorical question, but it prods a real question: is there such a rule? If so, where is it written?
  9. C4ENG, Apr 18, 2013
    #9
    C4ENG

    C4ENG Senior Member

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    Exactly
  10. Sea Gull, Apr 18, 2013
    #10
    Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    Ever hear of swimming?
  11. Old Phart, Apr 18, 2013
    #11
    Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    Work Ethics comes to mind. :rolleyes:
  12. Capt Ralph, Apr 18, 2013
    #12
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Or, the good ol boy had an accident. Stuff happens.

    I don't jump from my boat, and have problems when a passenger does, but always try to enjoy the area (with someone in charge still running da boot) including taking a dive or swim.
    So, was da skipper in dress or shorts? In good spirit with the guest or showing his a$^ (rear)? Was an co-officer looking on?

    We may never know the whole story but ya have to remember,, stuff happens. Hope he is O K.
    ,rc
  13. wscott52, Apr 19, 2013
    #13
    wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    If it were illegal for the captain to leave the vessel while it was away from the dock with owners and their guests (not guess by the way) onboard then he would basically be a prisoner on the yacht unless it was at an approved dock. I really doubt there is any regulation anywhere forbidding a captain from leaving an anchored yacht with guests onboard. At least as long as there is someone left onboard able to take command. I mean, I have taken guests out in the dingy from an anchored boat while other guests were left onboard and it never occurred to me I might be breaking the law.
  14. MountainGuy, Apr 19, 2013
    #14
    MountainGuy

    MountainGuy Member

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    It's the same thing as if you employ a driver. You can leave the car, but you have to take care that you are always capable and able of driving. SO if the boss goes skiing, you should not go skiing, but wait at the station and drink some coffee...

    I was a driver when I was a student, and if my boss when for jogging, I had to wait near the car, so that I did not run danger to hurt my ankles ...

    So, I'm sure that same applies to marine captains. And even if off duty, you have to act responsible so that you can resume duty any time (see airline pilots, should not drink too much before flight...)
  15. K1W1, Apr 19, 2013
    #15
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    I am pretty sure that from a legal standpoint being at anchor is the same as being at sea as far as the Safe Manning Requirements go.

    I have been on a vessel where an audit took place , the Master was not onboard, a non conformity was issued because of this even though the yacht was securely tied up at the dock.

    If the Chief Officer has the qualifications as Master, the 2nd Officer the qualifications as Chief Officer and bosun as 2nd Officer then there would be no problem with one of them being off the yacht.
  16. Old Phart, Apr 19, 2013
    #16
    Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    Seems like something Captain Schettino would do. :rolleyes:
  17. captholli, Apr 19, 2013
    #17
    captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Flag State Safe Manning reqs pretty well spell everthing out in plain english as far as commercial vessels are staffed (officer wise) BUT, They certainly can't regulate "Plain Stupid" because thats what doing a swan dive ,Or any dive in your speedo off the top deck of a 200 ft yacht has to be deemed . It has to be min. 45 -55 ft off the water & certainly would be risky for all but the boys in Acapulco. I think the real question would be are there any regs that forbid masters from doing anything that would knowingly put their safety at risk while the vessel is in operation I.E. full compliment of passengers or on charter or just plain underway? Diving off the top deck of a 200 ft yacht might be considered a "Grey Area" as far as knowingly putting your safety at risk & I can't find the answer but common sense say's there has to be one buried in the regulations some where.
  18. davidwb, Apr 19, 2013
    #18
    davidwb

    davidwb Senior Member

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    If there's a video of that event I'm very interested :D
  19. C4ENG, Apr 20, 2013
    #19
    C4ENG

    C4ENG Senior Member

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    That's hilarious! No there is no video and to update the capt made it back to the vessel fine with only deep bruises to his shoulder and ego.
    FYI I am not trying to pin this guy up on rules. I have been in a lot of situations having to watch a captain un nessarly put himself in danger and almost always it's in the name of "saving money". I do not find it fair to have to watch a situation where someone purposely does put them selves in a situation of being potentially hurt (and especially when I need them)and it can be very difficult as an engineer to tell a captain "NO" as that usually it does not go over well as the capt usually replies "you do not tell me what to do". Knowing the rules in my experience works a bit better so the conversation can maybe go something like this:
    "Captain, I would want to be the first person in the shark infested waters with you to help untangle the ships anchor that happens to be wrapped around the islands electrical conduit to save Forbes #26 richest man in the world $300 for a dive crew with the appropriate tools, BUT the law of provision of regulation of such and such says we can't be risking ourselves in non emergency situations"
  20. carelm, Apr 20, 2013
    #20
    carelm

    carelm Senior Member

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    You know things aren't going to end well when the captain said, "Hey, everybody watch this!".:D
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