When is close too close !

[boristhebold]

I popped to Hythe early this morning in the car to view the new Cunard ship the 'Queen Elizabeth' coming into Southampton, lovely looking ship. I was surprised to see a yellow rib in front of it no more than about 40 feet from it's bow, looked rather dodgy as the ship could not stop if he had a problem, considering the size of the ship as a target I didnt see any police vessels about. I know the Queen herself isnt due to arrive until tommorow for the naming ceremony but I was surprised how close boats could get to the ship. Anyone know the general rule of how close you are allowed to get to a cruise ship or other large vesel for a look.

[treerat]

50m springs to mind. They won't like it if you get too much closer.

Man with big gun made that very clear one day in Portland!!!

[GordyP]

When QE2 came to the Clyde for the last time, there was a huge banner on her telling all boats to keep clear. Rather usefully I can't now remember whether it was 50 or 100m.

[m chappelow]

i suppose it depends on where abouts ,, in a narrow or bouyed channel from what i remember a boat of less than 20 meters shall not impede a larger vessel constained by draught,
so if it is in the confines of a bouyed channel and something goes wrong ,perhaps the ship runs aground because you were in the way owing to it having taken evasive action i am not too sure where the blame would lie for a tug tow off or at at a court hearing/inquest or claim for a salvage recovery..
.think best thing is to keep well away ,,anyhow who wants to look up at a wall of steel plates ,,you can see better from a safe distance.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

Anyone know the general rule of how close you are allowed to get to a cruise ship or other large vesel for a look.

It depends where you are. If it was in the "precautionary area" then there's a Moving Prohibited Zone which extends 1000 metres in front of the ship and 100m either side.

Southampton Notice to Mariners No 3 of 2010

I can't recall any specific distances in other circumstances, other than "a safe distance".

[m chappelow]

i suppose it depends on where abouts ,, in a narrow or bouyed channel from what i remember a boat of less than 20 meters shall not impede a larger vessel constained by draught,
so if it is in the confines of a bouyed channel and something goes wrong ,perhaps the ship runs aground because you were in the way owing to it having taken evasive action i am not too sure where the blame would lie for a tug tow off or at at a court hearing/inquest or claim for a salvage recovery..
.think best thing is to keep well away ,,anyhow who wants to look up at a wall of steel plates ,,you can see better from a safe distance.

[boristhebold]

Yep that's kind of what I thought, im surprised the person in the rib (about 30feet) directly in front of bow wasn't confronted, but with the abscence of any patrol vessels he got away with it. In comparison the pilot boat was way ahead of him, no way could the bridge officers see the rib, if his engine had conked out he would have been fish food..

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

In comparison the pilot boat was way ahead of him, no way could the bridge officers see the rib, if his engine had conked out he would have been fish food..

You have stated the pilot boat was ahead of him , did the RIB cross between the QE and the pilot boat? If so the cameras at VTS and aboard the pilot boat would have been busy and expect action.
Were you monitoring VTS? If so I would expect they were "very live" with other RIBs actions

[Pikey Dave]

If it had been a WAFI (sorry, I'll get my coat) & not a RIB the WAFI would have expected the powered vessel to give way surely

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by m chappelow

in a narrow or bouyed channel from what i remember a boat of less than 20 meters shall not impede a larger vessel constained by draught, so if it is in the confines of a bouyed channel and something goes wrong ,perhaps the ship runs aground because you were in the way owing to it having taken evasive action

More likely the rib ends up in little pieces strewn around the water.

jky