Isn't it time a 'compulsory towing' act was introduced for morons like these?

Nos4r2 · 01 January 2013, 10:22

BBC News - Birnbeck Island fishermen refuse lifeboat hope in rough seas

Starovich · 01 January 2013, 10:26

meh, leave em out there, darwin will win in the end

spartacus · 01 January 2013, 10:30

If they didn't get back to shore until 17.00 GMT it would have been pitch dark?

Nos4r2 · 01 January 2013, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starovich

meh, leave em out there, darwin will win in the end

If it was me who found them I would have done, but these fools took up valuable resources.

Surely there's a case for giving them an involuntary tow back to land?

skippermarky · 01 January 2013, 11:19

I think in these selfish stupid circumstanses, there should be a way of making these idiots pay, for waisted services and the risks to lives

mick · 01 January 2013, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippermarky

I think in these selfish stupid circumstanses, there should be a way of making these idiots pay, for waisted services and the risks to lives

They should have had a bit more kit with them but its like these folk that call the RSPCA they don't always know the circumstances

Landlockedpirate · 01 January 2013, 12:13

I really respect the RNLI, and if I ever get in trouble their is no one I would rather see than them.

But what about the other side of this incident ? They did not call for help, they stayed out for another 2 hours and then returned home safely under there own power. At no point did they need rescuing. I agree they were bloody stupid with no flares or radio, but conditions looked fairly calm and the HonWave is a decent SIB.

Doug Stormforce · 01 January 2013, 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippermarky

I think in these selfish stupid circumstanses, there should be a way of making these idiots pay, for waisted services and the risks to lives

While I am not suggesting these guys are very clever you have to look at the other side.

They did not call SAR out.

When offered a tow back in the declined with a "No Thanks"

Why on earth should they have to pay for anything? and why should there be a way of "making them pay"?

As far as i can see from the story someone called in that a boat was in trouble and it turned out they were not.

Im with Starovich on this. Offer them help, offer them advice, if they don't want it let darwin sort it out.

Nos- why would you want a "compulsory towing act"? The responsibility for the safety of a vessel surly lies with the skipper, it is not the place of a lifeboatman to decide who can stay out and who must come in

Erin · 01 January 2013, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

it is not the place of a lifeboatman to decide who can stay out and who must come in

A very valid point, and this is the problem with a lot of society issues today. As soon as someone becomes responsible for someone else they will end up erring on the side of caution and eventually you'll find everyone being towed in. The slight of risk of not towing someone in will one day end up as a lawsuit and huge compensation claims because the poor lifeboat man made the wrong choice. As said, let Darwin takes its course.

parm · 01 January 2013, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

I really respect the RNLI, and if I ever get in trouble their is no one I would rather see than them.

But what about the other side of this incident ? They did not call for help, they stayed out for another 2 hours and then returned home safely under there own power. At no point did they need rescuing. I agree they were bloody stupid with no flares or radio, but conditions looked fairly calm and the HonWave is a decent SIB.

Agreed +1

Ribochet · 01 January 2013, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

I really respect the RNLI, and if I ever get in trouble their is no one I would rather see than them.
.

Hold on -there is a very big difference between the Coastguard (MCA) and the RNLI. The report, if you read it, refers specificially to "Swansea Coastguard" as being co-ordinating authority and the RNLI (volunteers) were tasked to the incident by the Coastguard and were the under instruction of Swansea Coastguard as per this extract

Swansea coastguard then allowed one of the lifeboats to return to station but kept the other lifeboat standing by until the fishermen agreed to try to land at 17:00 GMT.

If anyone is going to have a pop at the RNLI make sure you have your facts right.

Nos4r2 · 01 January 2013, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

While I am not suggesting these guys are very clever you have to look at the other side.

They did not call SAR out.

When offered a tow back in the declined with a "No Thanks"

Why on earth should they have to pay for anything? and why should there be a way of "making them pay"?

As far as i can see from the story someone called in that a boat was in trouble and it turned out they were not.

Im with Starovich on this. Offer them help, offer them advice, if they don't want it let darwin sort it out.

Nos- why would you want a "compulsory towing act"? The responsibility for the safety of a vessel surly lies with the skipper, it is not the place of a lifeboatman to decide who can stay out and who must come in

You make a very good point-as does Erin. What annoys me is that these clowns tied up sevices for 2 hours that may have been needed elsewhere. I guess there's no way round it though apart from letting evolution do it's work.

rigi36 · 01 January 2013, 14:00

The people in the boat are not at fault for the 2 hours wasted RNLI time.

willk · 01 January 2013, 14:38

That's an interesting situation. The decision to attend had nothing to do with the RNLI so they're out of the debate straight away. Their only input will have been to report on the state of the boat and crew to the CG.

I say interesting, because someone always gets the blame for things that go wrong. If these terwats had been drowned, then you can rest assured that their next of kin wouldn't have chalked it up to bad luck/stupidity and a witchhunt would have been started. "Who in charge knew that these poor inexperienced men were out there in the new boat that Tommy had got for Christmas, his last Christmas with Tammy...?"

I can think of a shout where a drunk had decided to swim out to sea and die. The RNLI were tasked to find him and rescue him. They found him (well out to sea and going strong) but he refused to be rescued. In fact, he was a big lad and threatened to knock the teeth from the first man to touch him. So they had to sit with him for an hour or so until the cold dampened his fighting spirit and he agreed to be recovered. Crazy? Yup, but what can they do once the situation is reported?

The police have some powers in situations like this (AFAIK) but the rescue services don't - they just have to keep trying to rescue.

Pikey Dave · 01 January 2013, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

While I am not suggesting these guys are very clever you have to look at the other side.

They did not call SAR out.

When offered a tow back in the declined with a "No Thanks"

Why on earth should they have to pay for anything? and why should there be a way of "making them pay"?

As far as i can see from the story someone called in that a boat was in trouble and it turned out they were not.

Im with Starovich on this. Offer them help, offer them advice, if they don't want it let darwin sort it out.

Nos- why would you want a "compulsory towing act"? The responsibility for the safety of a vessel surly lies with the skipper, it is not the place of a lifeboatman to decide who can stay out and who must come in

I agree, this was basically a false alarm.

Rokraider · 01 January 2013, 17:28

I can't see how you can make anything compulsory, when there are no sensible rules and regs regarding boating to start with. As long as people can take to the water with no requirement for training, you will never be able to control anything. I agree with the previous Darwin comments, when they come unstuck it will be a lesson for the next Lemming to take into account.

Peter_C · 01 January 2013, 19:32

Sure is written more dramatic than it looks.

willk · 01 January 2013, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Sure is written more dramatic than it looks.

BBC copywriters like a bit of Drama in their reports...

PeterM · 01 January 2013, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Sure is written more dramatic than it looks.

My view too. The press get huge amounts factually wrong - you only realise when you know about a subject ..and they sensationalise massively ...

I dont really understand how anyone would argue when two lifeboats turn up. The crews generally are not usually the sort you question or argue with - much like the SAR guys..they have an 'authority' its hard to argue with.

Waterman · 01 January 2013, 21:31

Reminds me of an incident on the West of Ireland a few years back. A group of "local professional" surfers were setting up to surf at the base of the Cliffs of Moher.

Apparently They had recce'd the site on a number of occasions and had a number of jet skis on site to tow them in/get them out. They were setting up their cameras when a concerned passer by saw them from the cliff tops, he called the coast guard who launched the Aran Island Lifeboat and sent a Chopper from Shannon.

From talking with some involved it seems they said "Thanks, but no thanks" and the coast guard put serious pressure on them to get on the lifeboat and then heavily criticised the surfers in the national press saying that they were in 'trouble' and refused their assistance.