Boat Colission Savannah

That one ought to be cut and dried. I'm betting the barge had the right of way no matter what the headings were either constrained by draft, limited maneuverability, or engaged in dredging operations. The Sea Ray had to be doing something stupid unless this was some kind of super speedy super maneuverable dredging barge. As an aside, I could see that very spot from our living room window when I was growing up.

Hehe. I dunno, at least buoys don't have crew to witness and testify to your seamanship.

Room service and a pool?

The only thing here that is cut and dried is that your statement is really foolish.

First off, the other vessel involved is not a barge. It is the Manson Construction Company trailing suction hopper dredge "Bayport." It is a highly maneuverable vessel.

Second, nothing has been published (at least to this hour) that says if the dredge was engaged in dredging operations, was light or loaded, or anything else about the circumstances leading to the incident.

Ya wanna bet who's found primarily at fault right here, right now?

It may be maneuverable for a 280 foot boat but do you really believe it's more manueverable than a 50' Sea Ray?

I know where this happened. It's a narrow dredged channel from the mouth of the Savannah River to deep wate 12 miles offshore. Depth outside the channel could be on the order of 10-15'. I'm guessing even lightly loaded the barge, oops boat, might draw more than was available outside the channel.

Despite what the reports say it was not in Savannah. Savannah is some 18 miles up the Savannah River from the coast. This incident happened 4 miles off the coast of Tybee Island.

I'll give you I leaped to a conclusion with little in the way of facts but I'll bet you when all the facts are in I'll still be right.

No thanks. I will wait for the facts to be published before making that kind of judgement.

By the way, you did notice my initial statement was devoid of absolutes? Or in other words speculation? I suppose idle speculation on an event that can in no way impact my life is foolish anyway. Gosh, if I could only be you!

You mean like : "The Sea Ray had to be doing something stupid ..."

If you could be like me you wouldn't have posted such a stupid statement.

Judy.... You must look more closely at the evidence in the pic. Clearly it was the changing currents (caused by the changing depths) that dragged the boat accross the side of the barge. Current direction is shown clearly by the direction the fishing rod is pointing!

Curt

Yeah that and I have better manners than to insult random strangers on an Internet forum. But then lots of weak silly people gain supreme courage and knowledge when behind the keyboard.

I do know if you did that to my 50' Sea Ray you would be out of a job unless it was dead in the water with both engines inoperative.

How do you know it wasn't?

It's true I don't. The damage is to the stern so maybe the barge just ran over them. We'll see.