Bottom Cleaner killed by thruster in Palm Beach

Tragic. That is our previous boat, prior to the name change.

I'm always trying to come across as relaxed and happy on the boat, but things like that happen when people are too relaxed and comfortable around boats. I'm just getting back into boating after decades in aviation, hoping I start relaxing more, maybe not.

That's terrible. Just shows the lack of safety culture. My biggest question would be if divers are in the water why were systems not tagged out

Accidents happen, but to engage a bow thruster with a diver in the water who's servicing your hull crosses the 'accident' line and comes perilously close to the negligent homicide line.

I wasn't there, and don't have any knowledge of the actual incident. But let's give the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. What if there was no prior knowledge of a diver in the water? Or what if he were working on another boat in the marina, and was swimming by beneath the surface with no dive flag?
I've seen both of those scenarios in real life.

In the construction industry we have "Lockout-Tagout", where electrical panels and such are "locked out" by the trades servicing the equipment until their work is complete. I am surprised their isn't something like that for when divers are cleaning a hull on these larger yachts. There was a female diver injured a few years ago in Key West by one of the engines being put in gear while cleaning. But like Ken has pointed out could be a different yacht than he was cleaning.

If he were working on an adjacent vessel, then I'd agree. Culpability becomes much more difficult to determine. But that doesn't appear to be the case as the statement from the lead investigating agency, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, confirms he was killed by the bow thruster of the vessel he was cleaning.

Is it possible that he entered the water to begin cleaning without notifying anyone on the ship? I guess anything is possible, but it's not likely and I suspect it's not what happened here. If he did properly notify the ship's crew before work began, it's hard to imagine a scenario that exculpates the ship's captain and crew.

Same with airplanes, there are signs maintenance stands on the center console, indicating don't energize the hydraulics or pressurize the fuel system or such precautions.

The template exists in aviation and construction/manufacturing.

Maybe orange cones on the dock, tape (with date) over the engine controls and ER?

Horrible accident. Have actually questioned procedure while a diver is servicing a thruster even though I have never had one. How would a thruster that size be powered?

I am not going to make any judgments, because we don't know the details yet.

Like others, I am also involved with shoreside construction and lock out tag out is a key component to keeping people safe as others have noted.

One of the aspects I notice about divers in my area, is these guys are going 100 miles an hour in order to make a living. If you have never cleaned a hull, try it some day. It is hard work and not for the faint of heart.

There has been an influx of divers from South America that Have driven down prices in my area so the guys are having to work harder for less. I pay my guy extra, so he doesn't rush, and hopefully is safer for it.

Sad story.

I would assume hydraulic.

Hydraulic and generally the hydraulic system is run from an engine or generator with a power take off.

What I was thinking. Is there a normal check-in procedure when a contractor shows up to perform work on a yacht of this size?

A lot of times divers just jump right in without telling anyone.